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The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
DU faces teachers' wrath as it plans to omit courses on Pakistan, China, Islam in Pol Sc. PG syllabus
The university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters met on Tuesday to discuss the syllabi of several courses. This has sparked backlash from faculty members, who call the move politically driven. New Delhi: Delhi University may drop courses on Pakistan, China, Islam, and political violence from its MA Political Science syllabus, with the university's syllabus panel recommending the removal of several electives, faculty members alleged. Dr. Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee, said the Political Science PG syllabus came under 'significant scrutiny' during the meeting. 'The courses that were dropped and asked to be revamped are 'Pakistan and the World', 'China's Role in the Contemporary World', 'Islam and International Relations', 'Pakistan: State and Society', 'Religious Nationalism and Political Violence',' Sinha, who is also a member of the Academic Council said. Speaking to ANI, Monami Sinha said these papers would either be completely dropped or replaced by other courses. The new courses will then be referred to the department's course committee. The committee will prepare a new syllabus. This syllabus will be presented for approval to the university syllabus panel and then tabled in the Academic Council for approval. ANI reached out to the Delhi University administration, but there was no response at the time of filing this report. Recently, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh informed us that Department heads at the University of Delhi (DU) have been asked to review their syllabus and remove any unnecessary glorification of Pakistan. This statement comes in the wake of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. However, the members of the DU faculty have objected to these revisions in the syllabus, saying 'forced' changes are retrograde and politically motivated. Dr. Monami Sinha argued that removing these courses undermines academic rigour and geopolitical understanding. 'It is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India's constant foreign policy challenges,' she stated in her note. She also cautioned against excluding China at a time when it is emerging as a key player in the Global South. Along with political courses, the committee recommended the removal of unit 3 in MA Geography (semester 1), on internal conflict and religious violence — including a key text by Paul Brass — from the course 'Territorial Bases of Politics in India.' In the Social Geography paper, the Chair objected to the topic 'Distribution of SC Population', calling for a de-emphasis on caste-related content. A course on vulnerability and disaster was also dropped. In Sociology, the introductory theory paper was criticised for relying solely on Marx, Weber, and Durkheim, with calls to include Indian theorists and joint family structures, Sinha said. Objections were also raised to Kath Weston's reading on same-sex families, with the Chair noting that same-sex marriages are not legal in India. Condemning the recommended changes, Abha Dev, Secretary of Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) alleged that the academic autonomy of departments has been eroded and this 'should worry all of us'. 'Academic autonomy of Departments stands eroded. The dumbing down of courses by revisions centred around 'beliefs' rather than questions of pedagogy and scientific inquiry is unfortunate. Forced revisions are retrograde and are politically motivated. DU was known for its UG courses. These forced changes will adversely impact students' scholarships. This should worry all of us,' said Abha Dev. Meanwhile, Mithuraaj Dhusiya, elected member of the Academic Council questioned the authority of standing committee, saying the panel can suggest changes but it cannot ask direct departments to remove papers. 'The University administration of DU has forgotten the fact that the University space is meant for a ruthless and dispassionate debate to foster critical thinking; it is not meant to produce conformist, mediocre minds, which can only lead to the cult of hero worship. Instead of cancelling uncomfortable questions, one needs to always engage even with the perceived 'other' to equip oneself with the intellectual wherewithal to tackle the 'other' in the new global geopolitical order,' said Dhusiya, in a statement. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: Plagiarism, fake information riddle DU School of Open Learning study materials. 'Cruel joke'
India Gazette
05-07-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
DU Academic Council adopts 4th Year UG research guidelines amid faculty concerns over workload, funding
New Delhi [India], July 5 (ANI): The Delhi University Academic Council on Friday approved new guidelines for final-year undergraduate research and projects, even as faculty concerns over workload, funding, and unrealistic expectations. The Academic Council, DU's top academic decision-making body, cleared the framework to regulate the dissertation, academic project, and entrepreneurship tracks being introduced in the final year of UG courses. These guidelines were necessary as the first batch under the UGCF has now entered its fourth year. The proposal will now be presented before the Executive Council for final approval. According to the approved guidelines, every student opting for one of the three tracks will work under a faculty supervisor. Dissertations must be done individually, while academic projects may be pursued solo or in small groups. Entrepreneurship projects will require students to have studied two specific elective courses. Faculty members -- including those without PhDs -- will be eligible to supervise, with a maximum of 10 students per teacher, unless otherwise approved by the college's Research Committee. A monthly progress report must be submitted to the Subject Research Committee, and every student must present their progress before an Advisory Committee for Research. Each college is expected to form a three-tier research supervision structure: a College Research Committee (RCC), Subject Research Committee (SRC), and an Advisory Committee for Research (ACR). Funding for student research may be sourced from internal college funds, alumni, CSR grants, or industry collaborations. Colleges must also maintain a research repository and ensure anti-plagiarism checks. Faculty are to undergo training in research supervision, and students will receive orientation on ethics and citation practices. However, several elected members of the Academic Council, including Monami Sinha, Jitendra Meena, Anumeha Mishra, and Sanjeev Kaushal, submitted a note of concern, calling the proposal 'flawed in both design and delivery.' They argued that while the university expects high-level research outputs -- such as book chapters, Scopus-indexed articles, and patents -- it offers no institutional support on the input side. 'The University has made no attempt to rationalise direct teaching hours to include dissertation supervision, even as it keeps a very high demand on the output side,' the note said. The teachers pointed out that DU's own 2022 workload notification for postgraduate courses included supervision time in direct teaching hours -- and the same must apply at the UG level. They also criticised the guideline allowing faculty to supervise up to 10 students. 'Even 3-4 is a stretch when you factor in classroom duties and administrative workload,' said Dr Anumeha Mishra. Further, they questioned how faculty would mentor students with backlogs or poor academic performance if promoted to the research-intensive fourth year. Clause 4 of the document -- which permits research funding from student welfare funds, college service charges, CSR or alumni -- drew strong opposition. 'This amounts to shifting the financial burden of NEP implementation onto students. Costly research infrastructure, particularly for science, must be publicly funded,' said Dr Jitendra Meena. The note also flagged a lack of lab staff and the absence of any plan to expand infrastructure or personnel. The faculty members demanded revisions to committee structures, including the ACR, to make them more inclusive and feasible. They also objected to placing responsibility for plagiarism on faculty supervisors in an era of AI tools. 'This should be the student's responsibility and part of their academic assessment,' they said. (ANI)
India Today
26-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Delhi University professors divided over removal of papers on Islam, Pakistan, China
Delhi University faces backlash after its decision to drop postgraduate papers on Islam, Pakistan, and China. It has sparked intense debate in academic circles after its Standing Committee for Academic Matters decided to remove several proposed elective papers from the postgraduate Political Science removed subjects include Islam and International Relations, Pakistan and the World, China's Role in the Contemporary World, and State and Society in course titled Religious Nationalism and Political Violence has been held back for review in the upcoming committee meeting scheduled on July REACTIONS TO THE DECISION The move has not gone down well with several committee members. Professor Monami Sinha voiced strong opposition, calling the change an act of ideological warned that removing such papers undermines critical academic enquiry, especially at a time when understanding regional geopolitics is crucial."We argued that it is imperative to study Pakistan and China in detail. Ignoring these geopolitical realities would be academically short-sighted," Professor Sinha also raised concerns over the removal of references to caste, communal violence, and same-sex relationships from the revised Sociology and Geography CALL FOR AN INDIA-FIRST SYLLABUSOn the other hand, some members supported the decision, asserting that the current syllabus was "agenda-driven" and lacked balance. Committee member Professor Harendra Tiwari questioned the selective inclusion of only a paper on Islam and International Relations? Why not on Hinduism or Sikhism?' as quoted by to him, the committee's goal is to create a curriculum that is "India-centric" and unbiased, serving national academic made it clear that the dropped courses will not be reinstated unless they align with an India-first academic DISCUSSION AHEADThe topic remains unsettled, and the upcoming meeting on July 1 is expected to see further deliberation on the revised issue has not only triggered a division within the committee but has also raised broader questions about academic freedom, inclusivity, and political influence in higher this debate unfolds, students and faculty await clarity on what direction Delhi University's curriculum will ultimately take.(With inputs from PTI)- Ends
Indian Express
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
DU panel's decision to drop proposed PG papers on Islam, Pakistan, China sparks row
A Delhi University panel's decision to drop proposed postgraduate Political Science papers on Islam, Pakistan, and China has failed to find consensus among the members. While some called it ideological censorship, those who supported the decision termed it a step towards making the syllabus 'India-centric' and free from bias. In its meeting on Wednesday, DU's Standing Committee for Academic Matters directed the removal of four elective papers — Islam and International Relations, Pakistan and the World, China's Role in the Contemporary World, and State and Society in Pakistan. A fifth paper, Religious Nationalism and Political Violence, will be reviewed in the next meeting on July 1. Opposing the decision, committee member Professor Monami Sinha said such changes undermine critical thinking and reflect a push to dilute controversial but academically relevant content. 'We argued that it is imperative to study Pakistan and China in detail. Ignoring these geopolitical realities would be academically short-sighted,' she said in a statement. She also flagged the removal of references to caste, communal violence, and same-sex relationships in revised syllabi for Sociology and Geography. However, Professor Harendra Tiwari, also a member of the committee, supported the changes, calling the syllabus 'agenda-driven' and lacking in balance. 'Why only a paper on Islam and International Relations? Why not on Hinduism or Sikhism? We want a syllabus that serves students and our nation,' he told PTI. He added that the dropped papers will not be reinstated unless the revised syllabus aligns with an 'India-first' perspective. The next committee meeting on July 1 is expected to see further debate on the syllabus.
The Wire
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Remove 'Controversial' Caste-Related Topics, Courses on Pakistan, China: DU Panel
Despite opposition from faculty members, the departments of geography and sociology have been told to make large changes to their geography and sociology postgraduate syllabi. New Delhi: A meeting of Delhi University's Standing Committee for Academic Matters on Wednesday (June 25) has resulted in criticism from faculty members and allegations of "overreach", after the committee said key readings and units from the postgraduate geography and sociology courses should be removed. The faculty was also told to drop several courses completely. The courses that the committee said should be dropped in their entirety, according to a statement released by committee member and associate professor at Kamala Nehru College Dr Monami Sinha, are 'Pakistan and the World', 'China's Role in the Contemporary World', 'Islam and International Relations', 'Pakistan: State and Society' and 'Religious Nationalism and Political Violence'. "All of the above courses were dropped and asked to be changed, despite opposition from myself and several other members of the Standing Committee. We argued that it is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India's constant foreign policy challenges. Not having adequate knowledge of our geopolitical adversaries may leave us at a strategic disadvantage. Likewise, studying China is critical in a rapidly changing, multipolar world where China is likely to lead many Global South nations. Ignoring this reality would be academically short-sighted," Sinha's statement reads. From the geography postgraduate syllabus, two significant cuts were made to the 'Territorial Bases of Politics in India' course – a section on religious conflict and 'Internal Conflicts and Problems of Nation Building'. In the 'Social Geography' course, the section on 'Distribution of SC Population' saw objection with the committee chair stating that "caste-related topics that are considered controversial should be de-emphasised", according to Sinha. In the sociology postgraduate syllabus as well, objections were raised to various aspects of the course and the committee said that the 'Introduction to Sociological Theory' course should include Indian thinkers and not highlight highlight Marx, Weber and Durkheim. In a section of the course of families, the committee said the joint family system should be included and a reading on queer relationships by K. Weston, 'Families We Choose: Lesbians, Gays, Kinship', removed since same-sex marriage is not legal in India. In the course 'Sociology of Religion', "the Chair felt that the syllabus was unnecessarily controversial and biased", Sinha has stated. "The Chair insisted that rishi-muni be included and questioned why only "church" was mentioned and not other places of worship. The Head attempted to explain that 'Prophet, Priest, and Guru' are academic categories and do not represent any particular religion. Similarly, it was clarified that 'church, sect, cult' are academic phrases used in sociology to refer to types of organised religion, and are not specific to Christianity. However, the Chair remained unconvinced and stated that the syllabus was attributing religious authority to only one tradition. Despite being informed that in sociology, everyday terms may carry different academic meanings, Unit IV was asked to be revisited." Rudrashish Chakraborty, associate professor in the Department of English, Kirori Mal College and a member of the Delhi University Teachers' Association, has also issued a statement against the Standing Committee's decisions, saying that while the committee is free to make suggestions, its decision to order departments to "change their syllabi defies academic rationale and is an act of overreach". "Moreover the departments have the expertise in their respective disciplines to decide on the course contents which should come through the Committee of Courses. It is unfortunate that the Standing Committee has not followed the protocol required in academic decisions and syllabus making: and has succumbed to extraneous considerations which are inimical to the teaching-learning process," he continues. "The University administration of DU has forgotten the fact that the University space is meant for a ruthless and dispassionate debate to foster critical thinking; it is not meant to produce conformist, mediocre minds which can only lead to the cult of hero worship. Instead of cancelling uncomfortable questions, one needs to always engage even with the perceived 'other' to equip oneself with the intellectual wherewithal to tackle the 'other' in the new global geopolitical order," Chakraborty has said. Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers' Front and an associate professor of physics at Miranda House, added, "Academic autonomy of Departments stands eroded. Dumbing down of courses by revisions centred around 'beliefs' rather than questions of pedagogy and scientific inquiry is unfortunate. Forced revisions are retrograde and are politically motivated. ...These forced changes will adversely impact scholarship of students. This should worry all of us." Another meeting of the Standing Committee will be held on July 1 to further discuss these new syllabi for these subjects. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
