RSS affiliated teachers force DU to change history and English syllabus

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the BJP's youth wing, on Tuesday surrounded the Vice Regal Lodge at the university's complex, protesting against showing RSS in a negative light in DU syllabus. The member of ABVP and RSS are demanding the organisation should be shown in good light

During a meeting on the syllabus of under-graduate courses at the DU campus, Professor Rasal Singh, a member of the academic council, objected to an update to the English syllabus, which, he alleged, portrayed the RSS and its ideology in 'bad light'.

'Maniben alias Bibijaan' by Shilpa Paralkar on the 2002 Gujarat riots, and papers like 'Literature in Caste' and 'Interrogating Queerness' depict a negative picture of the RSS and Indian culture, they claimed. The book is based on fiction and narrates the story post Godhra riots.

Singh also said in political science, under the social movement course, there was a proposal to include the study of Maoism, while in history, there was an attempt to include history of naxalism and the Left.

Sources said the academic council had passed the syllabus but following a protest by Singh and the ABVP, the syllabus of four departments- English, History, Political Science and Sociology- was referred back for revision.

The ABVP surrounded the Vice Regal Lodge where the meeting was taking place, the sources said. A professor, privy to the development, claimed that ABVP members tried to barge into the vice chancellor's office.

They surrounded the VC's office and were shouting slogans and demanding that the heads of departments of History and English along with an academic council member, Saikat Ghosh be handed over to them, he said.

“It's pertinent to mention that the AC meeting was supposed to deliberate on the revised UG syllabus today. While all other syllabi were approved without discussion, the English and History syllabi were stalled by members affiliated to the BJP/RSS teachers' group NDTF. When Saikat Ghosh spoke in the AC meeting in defence of the English syllabus, immediately after that the ABVP tried to enter the Council Hall. The Council Hall has become a battlefield now between the security

This is how RSS inspired teachers/students gheraoed DU office where syllabus was being discussed. So, parts of History and English syllabus dropped under pressure. Meeting ended in pandemonium and teachers had to be smuggled out,” said Delhi University professor Nandita Narain.

"While all other syllabi were approved without discussion, the English and History syllabi were stalled by members affiliated to the BJP/RSS teachers' group.”

"When Saikat Ghosh spoke in the academic council meeting in defence of the English syllabus, ABVP tried to enter the Council Hall immediately after," the professor, who didn't wish to be named, said.

However, the ABVP denied the allegations and said they were peacefully protesting outside the meeting venue.