More than 1,100 eminent writers, civil society members, and academicians have urged to reinstate DU’s English syllabus texts. Thus, they wrote to the administration for the reinstatement of texts by Mahasweta Devi, Bama, and Sukirtharini. These texts were dropped by the statutory bodies of DU following the recommendations of an oversight committee.
Demands to reinstate DU’s English syllabus texts:
Petitions to reinstate DU’s English syllabus are signed by several teachers and students all across DU. Thus, many protests against the sudden changes are going on. Also, renowned authors like Arundhati Roy, Vikram Chandra, and historians like Romila Thapar, Ramchandra Guha, and more have shown their disagreement. The petition was endorsed by actors like Sharmila Tagore, Nandita Das, Shabana Azmi, and more.
Draupadi, the very famous text by Mahasweta Devi is among the deleted texts. Also, other famous texts like Sangati by Bama and poems by Sukirtharini have been deleted. Thus, the demand to reinstate DU’s English syllabus texts are valid on many grounds.
The angle of Dalit oppression:
The oppression of the Dalit and Adivasi community is highlighted. Hence, as per claims, the deleted texts portrayed the systematic oppression of Dalits. The texts depicted how oppression especially in gendered terms. Thus, this knowledge is vital to understand our contemporary ethos and politics. So, the question is why the young people of India are being kept away from such knowledge? This knowledge would help students make a better and equal country. So, the petition sharply highlights such factors.
115 DU TEACHERS SLAMMED THE DROP OF MAHASWETA DEVI’S DRAUPADI
Also, the professors of DU have termed the process null and void. Thus, the text-altering process was violated and bypassed by the Oversight Committee as per them. Hence, reinstate DU’s English syllabus texts is mandatory as it was altered undemocratically.