In the fifth semester of the BA Political Science degree, Delhi University added a segment on Hindutva theorist VD Savarkar, while books on Mahatma Gandhi were moved to the seventh semester.
Revised Syllabus Raises Concerns: Students in 3-Year Programme Excluded from Studying Mahatma Gandhi, Placed in 7th Semester
During the Academic Council (AC) meeting on Friday, Delhi University made significant updates to the syllabus of its BA Political Science course. One notable change is the inclusion of a new elective chapter on Veer Savarkar, a prominent figure associated with Hindutva, in the 5th semester.
As a result of this modification, the existing chapter highlighting Mahatma Gandhi's contributions to India's freedom struggle has been shifted to the 7th semester.
As per exclusive information obtained by India Today, the latest revisions to the syllabus reveal that a comprehensive paper on Savarkar will now be introduced for the first time in the curriculum.
However, a group of teachers has expressed opposition to this change. While they do not object to the inclusion of an elective on V.D. Savarkar, they are disappointed that the chapter focusing on Mahatma Gandhi has been moved to the final year of the program.
Here is an overview of the revised units for the elective:
Unit 1 - Savarkar and Indian historiography
Unit 2 - Savarkar and the Indian National Movement
Unit 3 - Hindutva and Hinduism
Unit 4 - Savarkar and Language Questions in India
Unit 5 - Religious conversions
Unit 6 - Untouchability and caste equations
Alok Rajan Pandey, a member of the Academic Council, told a media outlet, "Gandhi has now been pushed to the seventh semester, due to the elective on Savarkar. That is the problem. Teach Savarkar by all means, but when it is being done at the cost of Gandhi, we objected to this."
"Our argument is based on chronology." "Because Gandhi came before Savarkar and BR Ambedkar, he should be studied before them," he stated.
"In caste and the abolition of untouchability, Mahatma Gandhi made enormous contributions to India's freedom struggle." "His work cannot be denied," Prof Pandey remarked.
The professor stated that they will bring up this matter once more during the GNT Executive Council meeting scheduled for June 9.
Under the National Education Policy (NEP), the university has implemented a four-year program, offering students the option to pursue either a three-year or four-year undergraduate degree. As a result, those who choose the three-year program will not have the opportunity to study Mahatma Gandhi.
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