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Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Include teachings of Buddha, Gandhi,; drop Palestine, Kashmir issues: DU panel proposes changes to psychology curriculum
The Delhi University's Standing Committee on Academic Affairs has proposed incorporating teachings of Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and traditions from Jain philosophy, alongside texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, into the psychology curriculum under the units that deal with peacebuilding and conflict, The Indian Express has learnt. 'There are no bigger symbols than Gandhi and Buddha — they represent peace and universal values,' said a committee member on the condition of anonymity. The move aims to 'reduce the over-representation of Western thinkers' and bring in an Indian perspective, said sources. The suggestions were discussed during a meeting on May 2, as part of the syllabus revision for undergraduate (seventh and eighth semesters) and postgraduate psychology curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. According to internal notes and faculty present at the meeting, the committee also discussed removing content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue from a unit titled 'Conflict and Conflict Resolution', arguing that these were politically divisive and lacked relevance in a psychology course. 'When societies and nations are already divided on these two issues, what is the need to teach these in the classroom and divide students further?' said a committee member. Another added, 'Kashmir is a resolved issue as per Parliament… there is no need for it to be part of psychology.' When contacted, Shri Prakash Singh, Director of South Campus and Chairperson of the Standing Committee said, 'The meeting is inconclusive and nothing has been dropped yet,' without elaborating further. Supporters of the suggested revisions argue that Indian traditions offer valuable frameworks for understanding human behaviour and peacebuilding. 'Buddha always stood against Brahmanical and Vedantic philosophy, and his teachings suit everyone,' said another member, stressing that these perspectives are inclusive and better aligned with Indian cultural realities. However, several faculty members present at the meeting raised strong objections. According to them, the Chair not only dismissed discussions on international conflicts but also objected to the inclusion of topics such as dating apps, the Minority Stress Theory, and the psychology of diversity. In a unit of a paper titled 'Digital Lives and Mental Health', which explores the psychological impact of dating apps, some faculty members present at the meeting said that the Chair said such topics were unnecessary, adding that 'our Indian family system and arranged marriage traditions are strong, and we need not imbibe everything from the West.' Professor Urmi Nanda Biswas, Head of the Department of Psychology, however, is learnt to have defended the topic, citing recent cases of mental health crises and suicides linked to dating app usage among youth. The Minority Stress Theory—used to study how social stressors affect marginalised communities—was also flagged for removal by the Chair, claimed a few members, alongside objections to the teaching of caste, gender, and prejudice within the Psychology of Diversity paper. But another set of members on the committee said, 'Stress is universal. In India, the only minority is the Muslim minority,' referring to a narrower framing of psychological vulnerability. Meanwhile, some faculty members present at the meeting called the proposed revisions 'politically motivated'. 'This is not just about syllabus design. This is about academic freedom,' said Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee and Associate Professor at Kamala Nehru College. 'It is concerning that the autonomy of the Department seems to be overlooked, as the Chair's actions appear to be politically motivated and represent unwarranted interference in academic decision-making,' she said. A new panel has been constituted to revisit the syllabus, with final recommendations expected by May 6.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DU professor claims psychology syllabus faced scrutiny at standing committee meeting
A member of the Delhi University's Academic Council has raised concerns over what she described as undue scrutiny and interference in the psychology syllabus during a meeting of the university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters on Friday. No immediate response was available from the university. According to Monami Sinha, Associate Professor at the Kamala Nehru College and a member of both the Academic Council and the standing committee, several key areas of the syllabus were questioned, particularly for the inclusion of western perspectives and politically-sensitive topics. Major point of contention The Psychology of Peace course was a major point of discussion, especially Unit four, which deals with conflict and conflict resolution through case studies like the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue. Ms. Sinha claimed that there were calls to remove this unit altogether, with assertions that the Kashmir issue was already resolved and that teaching the Israel-Palestine conflict was unnecessary. It was proposed, she said, that the unit be replaced with Indian philosophical texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, to reflect indigenous perspectives on peace. Ms. Sinha also said objections were raised against content related to social media and dating apps, which form part of another elective. The argument, she said, was that such topics were not appropriate for Indian classrooms and that the curriculum should reflect traditional family values instead. This, despite the relevance of such topics in light of growing mental health concerns and recent incidents involving youngsters and online platforms. She further claimed that proposals were made to drop the Minority Stress Theory from the syllabus, a key framework for understanding the psychological experiences of marginalised groups. Additionally, she noted objections to the inclusion of themes like caste discrimination, misogyny, and prejudice under Psychology of Diversity, with suggestions to adopt a more positive approach instead. Ms. Sinha said these are deeply relevant issues in contemporary Indian society. 'Understanding the psychology of oppression, discrimination and evolving youth behaviour in the age of AI and social media is essential. Diluting these topics undermines the academic depth of the discipline,' she added. Ms. Sinha expressed concern that the department's academic autonomy is being compromised. "The nature of the objections appears politically motivated. Academic decisions should be based on pedagogy and research, not ideology," she said.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘No place for Western ideas': DU committee axes topics on Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, and dating apps, stirs controversy
A recent meeting of the Standing Committee on Academic Matters at Delhi University has ignited a debate over academic freedom after certain key topics were allegedly removed from the proposed psychology syllabus , as reported by TOI. Topics such as the Israel-Palestine conflict , the Kashmir issue , and the impact of dating apps on mental health were reportedly struck from the curriculum, sparking concern among faculty members about political interference. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India strikes hard! New Delhi bans all imports from Pakistan How Pakistan is preparing for the worst as India weighs response If India attacks Pakistan, China & B'desh should seize 7 NE states, says Yunus' aide According to faculty members present at the meeting, the Chair of the committee, Prof Shri Prakash Singh, voiced objections to the inclusion of what he described as an "overrepresentation" of Western thought. As a result, Unit 4 of the 'Psychology of Peace' paper, which covered conflict resolution and included case studies on both the Israel-Palestine and Kashmir conflicts, was reportedly removed. 'Kashmir is resolved,' Prof Singh allegedly remarked as per a TOI report, adding, 'we don't need to teach Israel-Palestine.' Rejection of dating apps and diversity topics In addition to the controversial removal of conflict topics, the committee also rejected proposals to include the psychology of dating apps under the digital media section. This topic had been added to the syllabus in light of increasing concerns over suicides linked to the misuse of such platforms. Urmi Nanda Biswas, head of the psychology department, argued that understanding dating apps was vital for students, especially given their role in recent youth suicides. However, the committee chair dismissed the need to include this, stating that "our Indian family system is strong" and there was no need to adopt "Western ideas" in relation to dating culture. Live Events Another significant proposal that was struck down concerned the inclusion of the Minority Stress Theory and topics on caste discrimination , misogyny, and prejudice in Indian society. Despite some committee members arguing for the importance of teaching about these contemporary issues, Prof Singh reportedly dismissed these topics as overly negative. Concerns over academic autonomy and political interference Dr Monami Sinha, a member of both the Academic Council and the Standing Committee, raised concerns about the chair's influence on the syllabus. 'It is concerning that the autonomy of the department seems to be overlooked, as the chair's actions appear to be politically motivated and represent unwarranted interference in academic decision-making,' Dr Sinha commented. Her remarks underline broader concerns about academic freedom, with critics fearing that the syllabus is being shaped by external political pressures rather than academic merit. A new panel to rework the syllabus As a result of the controversy, a new panel has been formed to revisit the syllabus. The revised proposal will be presented again to the Standing Committee. The rejected Unit 4, titled 'Conflict and Conflict Resolution', aimed to offer students a psychological perspective on the nature of international and ethnic conflict. This included the psychological impacts of aggression and structural violence, with case studies on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Kashmir, and the India-Pakistan dispute, as well as tensions in India's Northeast, specifically Nagaland and Manipur. In addition, the department had proposed an elective titled Relationship Science (DSE), which aimed to delve into the psychology of love, attraction, and online relationships, including the use of dating apps. The department argued that this topic was important to help students foster healthy relationships in a rapidly changing social landscape. Another elective, Diversity and Inclusion at the Workplace (DSE 12), was also part of the proposal. This included frameworks like the Minority Stress Theory, widely used in understanding the mental health challenges faced by marginalised groups in professional environments. However, this too was rejected by the committee. The evolving psychological needs of India's youth Dr Sinha argued that these topics are crucial for understanding modern Indian society, especially in the context of the evolving psychological challenges faced by youth in the digital age. She highlighted the importance of addressing issues like caste discrimination, prejudice, and the mental health impacts of online relationships. 'Understanding the psychology of oppression and prejudice, as well as the evolving mass psychology of youth in the age of AI and online relationships, is crucial for the development of a comprehensive psychological framework,' Dr Sinha said. The controversy surrounding the syllabus proposal highlights a larger debate within India's educational system about the balance between tradition and modernity, and the role of academic institutions in addressing pressing societal issues.
The Print
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
DU professor claims psychology syllabus faced scrutiny at standing committee meeting
According to Monami Sinha, Associate Professor at the Kamala Nehru College and a member of both the Academic Council and the standing committee, several key areas of the syllabus were questioned, particularly for the inclusion of western perspectives and politically-sensitive topics. No immediate response was available from the university. New Delhi, May 2 (PTI) A member of the Delhi University's Academic Council has raised concerns over what she described as undue scrutiny and interference in the psychology syllabus during a meeting of the university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters on Friday. The 'Psychology of Peace' course was a major point of discussion, especially Unit 4, which deals with conflict and conflict resolution through case studies like the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue. Sinha claimed that there were calls to remove this unit altogether, with assertions that the Kashmir issue was 'already resolved' and that teaching the Israel-Palestine conflict was unnecessary. It was proposed, she said, that the unit be replaced with Indian philosophical texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita, to reflect indigenous perspectives on peace. Sinha also said objections were raised against content related to social media and dating apps, which form part of another elective. The argument, she said, was that such topics were not appropriate for Indian classrooms and that the curriculum should reflect traditional family values instead. This, despite the relevance of such topics in light of growing mental health concerns and recent incidents involving youngsters and online platforms. She further claimed that proposals were made to drop the Minority Stress Theory from the syllabus — a key framework for understanding the psychological experiences of marginalised groups. Additionally, she noted objections to the inclusion of themes like caste discrimination, misogyny and prejudice under 'Psychology of Diversity', with suggestions to adopt a more 'positive' approach instead. 'These are deeply-relevant issues in contemporary Indian society,' Sinha said. 'Understanding the psychology of oppression, discrimination and evolving youth behaviour in the age of AI and social media is essential. Diluting these topics undermines the academic depth of the discipline,' she added. Sinha expressed concern that the department's academic autonomy is being compromised. 'The nature of the objections appears politically motivated. Academic decisions should be based on pedagogy and research, not ideology,' she said. PTI MHS RC This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
