Delhi University students left in lurch as teachers protest against politically motivated changes in English syllabus
NB: Will all academic syllabi now be subject to vetting by the "Sangh Parivar"? This is yet another attempt to enforce an ideological agenda via political machination and intimidation. Shame on the university authorities for allowing this blatant interference to take place. DS
We, the teachers of English across Delhi University are shocked and appalled at the un-academic, politically motivated attack on our syllabus. This is a democratically drafted syllabus, which involved faculty participation from around 40 colleges; over 2 years, and more than 3000 working hours have been spent on it. It is a matter of sorrow and deep academic concern that the syllabus is now being maligned, and is sought to be scuttled, by certain political groups at the University.
State protected hooliganism in Ramjas College
We, the teachers of English across Delhi University are shocked and appalled at the un-academic, politically motivated attack on our syllabus. This is a democratically drafted syllabus, which involved faculty participation from around 40 colleges; over 2 years, and more than 3000 working hours have been spent on it. It is a matter of sorrow and deep academic concern that the syllabus is now being maligned, and is sought to be scuttled, by certain political groups at the University.
To initiate the democratic
exercise of syllabus revision, a call for a GBM was sent out by the HoD-DU
English via letters to all colleges inviting participation. Subsequently, two
GBMs were held in May and August 2017 from which Clusters and Committees were
democratically organized, even as these continued to remain open during
meetings, for teachers to join in and participate with their suggestions.
At every point,
discussions were minuted and circulated to ensure a continuing of the
democratic spirit in which the entire exercise was undertaken. The syllabus has
received extensive student and faculty feedback since it has been on the
department website for far longer than other subject syllabii. In our syllabus,
new areas of study were introduced, and the syllabus was consciously
decolonised to introduce students to a wide variety of writings in English. The
syllabus was carefully worked out to ensure a seamless progression from school
curricula ,transiting into postgraduate studies. In the following of due
process, the syllabus has received positive feedback from both national
and international experts.
We are thus deeply
dismayed that deliberations which have been marked by an open, free and fair
exchange of ideas, are being described as ‘Leftist’ and ‘partisan’. Nothing could
be farther from the truth. It is to be noted that objections that are now being
raised were never submitted during the time allocated for feedback.
It has now been two
weeks since the University reopened and we are yet to receive our syllabus.
Students of English Hons, BA Programme, BCom and all other Science and
Humanities departments where English is taught both as a Compulsory paper and
as an Elective, are being made victims of the political machinations of certain
groups.
In stalling the
passing of a rigorously worked out syllabus that has a cross section of
representative texts and readings and one that has been vetted and approved by
University statutory bodies twice, there is also a clear campaign to malign the
functioning of a reputed public university, like the University of Delhi. in
which we all have a strong and abiding academic investment.
Endorsed by 85 DU
English teachers.
State protected hooliganism in Ramjas College
