Controversy: Delhi University Removes 2 Dalit Authors & Short Story Of Award-Winning Writer From English Syllabus

New Delhi: In a controversial move, two Dalit authors have been removed from the English syllabus of Delhi University along with a short story of Sahitya Akademi, Jnanpith and Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi.

After the Oversight Committee (OC) of the university took the decisions, the Academic Council (AC) held a meeting on Wednesday where 15 members submitted a note of dissent against the OC and its functioning.

Stating that there had been “maximum vandalism” in LOCF (Learning Outcomes based Curriculum Framework) English syllabus for Semester V, AC members alleged that OC first decided to remove Dalit authors Bama and Sukhartharini, and replaced them with “upper caste” writer Ramabai.

“The Committee as an afterthought suddenly asked the English department to delete the celebrated short story of Mahasweta Devi, ‘Draupadi’ – a story about a tribal woman – without giving any academic logic. This is notwithstanding the fact that ‘Draupadi’ has been taught by the University of Delhi since 1999 owing to its seminal academic value,” AC members wrote.

“Moreover the Committee refused to accept any short story by Mahasweta Devi despite her iconic status globally as a writer and being a winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Jnanpith Award and Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India,” they said.

They further complained that these “arbitrary and academic changes” were “imposed without sharing any feedback from the stakeholders either with the syllabus committee of the department or with the Committee of Courses”.

They also contended that the OC continued to “harass” History, Political Science and Sociology departments “while approving their revised LOCF syllabus: that too only for Semester V.”

According to AC member Rajesh Singh, the only authority which can decide on courses is the Committee of Courses, which then has to get approval from Faculties, Standing Committee and AC.

“The OC has no such authority. They also delay notifying the syllabus for each semester, usually 4-7 weeks after the classes begin. We had given them the LOCF syllabus for Semester VI too, but they have still notified it,” Singh said.

OC Chairman MK Pandit defended its decision, saying that there was always dissent, which was part of the process.

“I don’t want to go into specifics, but a certain story has been taught for many years, and if there is revision, that is fine. There’s not just one author… there are many authors who deserve to be taught,” he observed.