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The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
New course on Bhagavad Gita proposed in DU's Political Science syllabus
Delhi University's Political Science department has proposed an elective course, 'Reading Bhagavad Gita', for first-year postgraduate students. It is set to be discussed in the upcoming July 1 meeting of the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs. If approved, the proposal to include it in the syllabus will be listed in the July 5 Academic Council meeting, which is the highest authority on decisions pertaining to syllabus changes. The revisions in the MA programme syllabus under the new Postgraduate Curriculum Framework are in line with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework that will be implemented from July. As per the 'course objective', it aims to instil Bhagavad Gita's 'universal teachings and socio-ethical relevance in modern times'. It also looks to explore concepts such as 'Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and their practical applications, and understanding the nature of the self (Jiva) and its relationship with the supreme'. The proposed course also aims to provide insights into 'Dhanya Yoga for mental clarity and focus and applying the teachings of the Gita to address contemporary challenges like stress, conflict, and ethical dilemmas'. 'The course enhances critical thinking, emotional resilience, and decision-making skills, empowering students to lead balanced and purposeful lives,' states the 'course outcomes section'. The course is divided into four units — 'History and Background of Srimad-Bhagavadgita', 'Gita and its Commentaries', the concepts of 'Sthitaprajna (a person of steady wisdom)' and 'Svadharma (one's purpose or duty)', and the idea of 'Niskam Karma (desireless action)'. In the proposed course, which carries four credits, many of the recommended readings are by Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 'No critical texts' Prof. N. Sukumar of the Political Science department said, 'Studying the Bhagavad Gita is a good idea, but we have to see whether different perspectives are included in the syllabus. Perspectives that challenge the Gita, such as those of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar, are not included, despite the two having written extensively on the subject. This is how we can tell that the course caters to the Hindutva agenda and not an academic agenda.' However, Harendra Nath Tiwari, a member of the Standing Committee, said, 'I have nothing against Dr. Ambedkar or Periyar, but this is not the right context to study them.' He added that the course is 'crucial' as it 'exposes students to concepts that will liberate them'.
India.com
26-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Delhi University To Drop Courses On Islam, Pakistan, And China From Curriculum
A proposal to remove chapters related to Pakistan, China, and Islam from the syllabus at Delhi University has stirred controversy. The debate began after the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs at Delhi University decided to remove four papers from the syllabus of the Political Science postgraduate programme. The four optional papers to be removed are: "Pakistan and the World," "Islam and International Relations," "Role of China in the Contemporary World," and "State and Society in Pakistan." The reason given for the proposed removal of these courses is that, till now, a one-sided approach has dominated the curriculum and now it needs to be made more balanced and India-centric. #DNAWithRahulSinha#DNA #DelhiUniversity #China #Pakistan | @RahulSinhaTV Zee News (@ZeeNews) June 26, 2025 There are varying opinions on this decision. Some argue that Delhi University students should focus on Indian society and governance before learning about the society and governance of other countries. Supporters of this decision also argue that students should prioritise the study of Indian society, governance and culture before venturing into other countries such as Pakistan or the intricacies of Islam. Scholars have previously raised concerns that the medieval period from the 8th to the 18th century is being given more importance in the curriculum. They argue that giving more importance to the medieval period led to neglect of ancient India. They also argue that giving more importance to the colonial period has undermined the dignity and glory of ancient India, influencing the worldview and personalities of the younger generation. Scholars say that subjects related to India should be taught prominently in universities, as this will give students a better understanding of the country and help develop an India-first perspective among the youth. However, some people are also opposing this decision. The argument against this is that knowledge of various subjects is necessary to understand international relations. It is true that for the complete development of the personality of the students, they should have knowledge of all subjects. But more important than this is that we should have a complete understanding of our society, our culture and our heritage. Because an incomplete understanding of history and a curriculum prepared from a particular perspective takes us away from the achievements of the past.
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.
