AISA opposes DU panel for recommending removal of Ilaiah's books from MA political science syllabus

The All India Students' Association has opposed a Delhi University panel's recommendation for removal of Dalit writer-activist Kancha Illaiah's books from the varsity's political science syllabus over their "controversial content".

Professor Saikat Ghosh, a DU professor and a member of the Academic Council, said the move is a "dismal outcome of the RSS-affiliated ruling dispensation's increasing interference in premier universities like DU".

Delhi University's Standing Committee on Academic Matters had also recommended the removal of the word 'Dalit' from academic discourse and said it should be be replaced with 'Scheduled Caste'.

The Standing Committee of the varsity also passed a decision to include the writings of B R Ambedkar in the syllabus.

The committee had also recommended for the removal of Illaiah's three books from the masters course in political science. These recommendations will be discussed at the Academic Council meeting likely to be held next month.

Any Dalit assertion, which challenges the Hindu establishment, is seen as not worthy of being taught to upcoming generations in today's India, the AISA said.

"University must be a place where opposing ideas are debated, discussed and challenged. This move by university is another attempt to gag critical voices and to fit its RSS model of education in place," the Left-backed party said.

The AISA opposes any such move of Delhi University to interfere with academic freedom and syllabus designing, the party said.

"We appeal to university's Academic Council to reject any such recommendation and calls upon the students and professors of the university to oppose any such move," it added.

Meanwhile, Ghosh said he would be writing to the president and the varsity's vice-chancellor "against this academic terrorism and intolerance that the RSS is unleashing on the University of Delhi".

"It is a dismal outcome of the RSS-affiliated ruling dispensation's increasing interference in premier universities like DU that the University's Standing Committee of Academic Council has recommended the removal of Kancha Ilaiah's books from the PG syllabus in political science, branded him anti-Hindu and disallowed the use of the word 'Dalit' in academic discussions, teaching and learning," he added.

The Standing Committee has no domain expertise or right to remove books from a syllabus prepared by a group of subject experts, he said.

"It can seek clarification from the political science department about the academic value of Kancha Ilaiah's books, but it cannot on its own decide the merits of demerits of teaching his books. Unfortunately, this Standing Committee has overreached itself in this matter," Ghosh added.