Latest news with #DharmashastraStudies
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
DU tells colleges to stick to notified syllabi
New Delhi: Days after it withdrew a controversial introduction of Manusmriti from the Sanskrit syllabus following a TOI report, Delhi University has directed college principals to ensure that only officially notified syllabi are taught. The notification, dated Aug 5 and issued by the registrar, said the university was aware of "several instances where the colleges have taught either the wrong courses or unapproved or unnotified syllabi of courses to students due to which students are put at unnecessary inconveniences". "All are hereby informed that the students must be offered and taught only the syllabi notified on the website of the university," the circular stated. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Gold Rates Today in Delhi | Silver Rates Today in Delhi It emphasised that syllabi placed before the Standing Committee or Academic Council are often altered before final approval, and "therefore, all are requested to kindly rely on the syllabi notified on the website of the university". The directive comes in the backdrop of a June 12 TOI report that revealed the introduction of a Sanskrit course, Dharmashastra Studies, which featured Manusmriti as a primary text. Previous proposals for inclusion of the text in law and history honours syllabi had to be withdrawn by the administration after it triggered criticism from a section of teachers and students who argued that Manusmriti promotes discriminatory ideas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Foods for Spine Health: Foods That Fight Back Pain Learn More Undo Following the TOI report, the university announced that the text would not be taught in any course and would be withdrawn from the Sanskrit curriculum. At the time, official sources had told TOI that the administration was not aware of the inclusion in the curriculum until after the report was published. In an official statement, the university clarified that the contentious text would be removed. The latest notification seeks to address similar lapses and ensure compliance with the final, approved syllabi published on the university website. According to DU officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, the problem arises because proposals discussed in academic bodies often undergo changes before being finalised, but some colleges proceed with earlier versions without waiting for the official upload. "The syllabi placed before the Standing Committee/Academic Council are generally modified as per suggestions received… Therefore… rely on the syllabi notified on the website," the circular stated. There was no immediate response from the DU registrar on whether the move was directly linked to the Sanskrit syllabus row and on the measures being taken to prevent such issues in the future. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Wire
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Says Manusmriti Removed From Curriculum, Won't Teach in Future
New Delhi: After a new course in the Delhi University titled Dharmashastra Studies included Manusmriti as a primary text vice chancellor Yogesh Singh said on Thursday (June 12) that the text will not be taught at the institution 'in any form'.'We will not teach any part of Manusmriti in any form in the University of Delhi. This direction has been issued even earlier by the vice-chancellor's office, and departments should adhere to it. The department should not have put it down in the first place following these directions,' said Singh, reported the Indian the objective of the course stated that 'ancient Indian society, in terms of whole and its parts, has been depicted in the texts compiled in Sanskrit known as Dharmashastra.'Other Hindu religious texts such as Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas have also been included as part of the course. The paper has been introduced as a core course in the current academic session and carries four credits. It is open to undergraduate students with working knowledge of such as Apastamba Dharmasutra, Boudhayana Dharmasutra, Boudhayana Dharmasutra, Vashistha Dharmasutra, Manusmriti, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti, and the Kautilya Arthashastra were included as primary readings.'The text has been removed from the Sanskrit department's 'Dharamshastra Studies'. In the future also, whenever it comes to our notice that the text has been suggested for studying, the administration will remove it,' V-C Singh told Hindustan the introduction of Manusmriti was widely criticised for extoling and reinforcing social, economic and gender inequalities, had prompted in some sections of faculty members in the varsity to raise concern over the move.
Deccan Herald
12-06-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
'Manusmriti will not be taught in any course': DU VC reiterates; Sanskrit dept reading dropped
The move comes after Manusmriti was listed in a four-credit Sanskrit course titled Dharmashastra Studies, introduced under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Scroll.in
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi University will not teach Manusmriti, says VC after text included in Sanskrit course
The Manusmriti will not be taught at Delhi University 'in any form', its vice chancellor told The Indian Express on Thursday. The statement came days after the text was reportedly included in the reading list of a new undergraduate Sanskrit course at the university. The Manusmriti is a Hindu scripture authored by a medieval ascetic named Manu. It has been widely criticised for its gender and caste-based provisions. 'We will not teach any part of Manusmriti in any form in the University of Delhi,' Yogesh Singh, the Delhi University vice chancellor, told the newspaper. 'This direction has been issued even earlier by the vice chancellor's office, and departments should adhere to it.' Singh added that the Sanskrit department should not have included the text in the reading list in the first place in view of the earlier directives. The department had listed the Manusmriti as one of the primary texts in the syllabus for a four-credit discipline-specific core course titled 'Dharmashastra Studies', according to The Indian Express. A discipline-specific core course refers to a mandatory subject within a particular academic field that provides foundational knowledge and skills. The reading list for the course also included Hindu religious texts such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Puranas and the Arthashastra, the newspaper reported. In July 2024, Delhi University had rejected a proposal to include the Manusmriti in its Bachelor of Laws syllabus. The Faculty of Law had proposed to introduce the literary works Manusmriti with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by GN Jha and Commentary of Manu Smriti – Smritichandrika by T Kristnasawmi Iyer as suggested readings for undergraduate law students. The proposal had triggered an uproar, with the Social Democratic Teachers Front, a collective of university teachers, writing to Singh. They told the vice chancellor that the introduction of any section or part of the Manusmriti is against the basic structure and principles of the Constitution. Singh had later said that a committee headed by him did not find the proposal 'appropriate' and rejected it. 'There are many other texts to teach [the] Indian knowledge tradition and we should not rely on any one text,' the vice chancellor had said.
News18
12-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Manusmriti Will Not Be Taught', Says DU After Inclusion In Sanskrit Course Syllabus
Last Updated: DU has dropped Manusmriti from its curriculum. The Manusmriti was included as one of the main texts for a four-credit DSC course called 'Dharmashastra Studies'. The University of Delhi has decided not to teach the Manusmriti, says Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh. The Sanskrit Department's 'Dharamshastra Studies' course, where Manusmriti was previously listed as recommended reading, has now been deleted entirely. The university clarified that the text will not be taught in any of its courses going forward. 'University of Delhi will not teach Manusmriti text in any course of the University. 'Dharamshastra Studies', the DSC of the Sanskrit Department, where Manusmriti is mentioned as a 'recommended reading" stands deleted," the university said in a post on X. The Manusmriti was included as one of the main texts for a four-credit Discipline-Specific Core (DSC) course called 'Dharmashastra Studies'. This course was approved by the Sanskrit department under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework based on the National Education Policy (NEP). The syllabus also included texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra. According to the course objective, 'Ancient Indian society, both as a whole and in its various parts, is described in Sanskrit texts known as Dharmashastra. The 'Dharmashastra Studies' course aims to familiarise students with the rich traditions of Indian social, political, economic, and legal thought." This isn't the first time Manusmriti has led to controversy at Delhi University. In July last year, the university dropped a proposal to include the text in the undergraduate History (Honours) syllabus after facing strong objections. At that time, university officials said they would not allow content that could cause social divisions. The text has faced widespread criticism for its caste and gender-based rules. Many students and academics accused the university of trying to promote outdated and discriminatory ideas. The reappearance of Manusmriti in the Sanskrit department's syllabus led to fresh criticism, with many demanding closer checks on how courses are designed. The vice-chancellor's latest decision shows that the university is standing by its earlier position to keep such content out of the curriculum. First Published:
