Delhi University has recently made changes to its syllabus, with the inclusion of VD Savarkar’s Hindutva ideology in the fifth semester and Mahatma Gandhi being taught in the seventh semester. The decision was made by the Academic Council on May 26th.
Previously, Savarkar was not part of the syllabus, while Gandhi was taught in the fifth semester. Alok Ranjan, a member of Delhi University’s academic council, highlighted this shift.
However, some teachers have expressed opposition to this decision. While they are not against the inclusion of VD Savarkar, they are unhappy about the placement of the Mahatma Gandhi chapter in the fourth year.
A senior academic has criticized the university, alleging that it has adopted a biased approach favoring the ideology of the NDA government. The academic is concerned that the establishment of new study centers will produce and endorse content that is baseless and harmful, thereby promoting the divisive agenda of the BJP party.
As per the revised syllabus, if a student chooses to leave the BA Political Science Honors course after completing three years instead of the full four years, they will miss out on studying Mahatma Gandhi’s significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle. It should be noted that until now, there has not been a dedicated paper on VD Savarkar taught in the course. This inclusion of Savarkar in the syllabus is a first-time occurrence, according to a statement from Delhi University.
According to Chandra Mohan Negi, a member of the academic council, there were several requests from members to include the teachings of Gandhi in the fourth semester, preceding those of Savarkar. However, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh rejected the proposal.
Negi stated that until now, Veer Savarkar had never been included in the undergraduate syllabus. However, the new paper’s title refers to him as “Veer Savarkar.”
The syllabus panel of Delhi University has put forth a recommendation to remove the term “Hindu” from the titles of two chapters that discuss B.R. Ambedkar in an elective paper. The paper includes content that criticises the Hindu social order and its treatment of women.
It is worth mentioning that the renowned poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal has also been excluded from the revised syllabus.
Who was Savarkar?
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was an activist, poet, writer, and politician. He was born on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur, Bombay Presidency, British India (now in Maharashtra, India), and passed away on February 26, 1966, in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India.
He was associated with organizations like Abhinav Bharat Society and Hindu Mahasabha, which aimed to promote Hindu unity and protect Hindu interests.
Savarkar is known for his concept of “Hindutva,” which emphasizes the cultural and national identity of Hindus. Savarkar believed in the preservation and promotion of Hindu culture and values, asserting that India should be a Hindu Rashtra (Hindu nation).
Critics have pointed to instances where Savarkar was perceived to have cooperated with the British colonial authorities during his imprisonment. He has also been criticised for association with the Hindu Mahasabha, an organization that promoted Hindu nationalism.
Critics have said that “Hindu Mahasabha had an exclusionary agenda that marginalized religious minorities, especially Muslims, and did not align with the pluralistic ideals of a diverse society.”
Via: Muslim Mirror
