Latest news with #UndergraduateCurriculumFramework
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New chapter: DU plans UG course on Sikh resistance during Mughal period
New Delhi: Delhi University plans to introduce a course on Sikh martyrdom for all undergraduate students, focusing on how the Sikh community emerged in response to "religious persecution" and "state oppression" during the Mughal period and later during foreign invasions. Spanning the time frame between 1500 and 1765, the course traces the evolution of Sikh identity through episodes of resistance — from the martyrdom of Sikh gurus to the rise of Sikh warriors like Banda Singh Bahadur. It will be offered by the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies as a four-credit generic elective based on Undergraduate Curriculum Framework, 2022, making it accessible to students across disciplines. The course will be tabled for approval before the Academic Council of the University slated to meet on July 5. The final decision lies with the Executive Council, DU's highest decision-making body. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi According to the curriculum, the course aims to "throw light on the moral basis of emergent struggle by Sikhs to resist religious persecution" and "focus on the neglected social-religious history of martyrdom in the Indian context." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It also aims to "encourage critical and reflective engagement with Sikh history, especially the legacy of martyrdom, from a moral and socio-political perspective." The syllabus is divided into four units. The first unit begins with an overview of how Sikhism emerged, the conditions in Punjab under the Mughal empire, what martyrdom means in the Sikh tradition, and the contributions of the early Sikh gurus from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Ramdas. The second unit looks at how the Mughal state used its power to suppress Sikhs. It focuses on the lives and martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur, as well as the responses to state policies during the time of Guru Hargobind and Guru Harkrishan. It also includes the stories of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayala. The third unit delineates the forging of Sikh identity by Guru Gobind Singh by organising community and by opposing the "misdeeds of the Mughal State". It also covers the struggle of Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh, their battles, the martyrdom of Sahibzadas, the rise of Banda Singh Bahadur, his victorious battles and his martyrdom. The final part focuses on other key Sikh warriors and martyrs and their struggle in encountering "religious bigotry of Mughal rulers and foreign invaders". It also highlights important places linked to Sikh history, such as Sri Harmandir Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Sirhind, Gurdwara Sis Ganj, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, and Lohgarh Fort. The syllabus includes field visits along with documentary screenings and engagement with translated primary sources like Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri and Bichitra Natak. The course's learning outcomes state that students will be able to "understand the historical and religious basis of Sikh resistance and martyrdom," assess the "repressive strategies of the Mughal state," and critically engage with how Sikh history has been remembered and narrated. Welcoming the initiative, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi cabinet minister and former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), said the course was a long-overdue recognition of the Sikh community in mainstream education and a timely addition ahead of the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Nov. "DU's effort to highlight how the community stood up to religious persecution under Mughal rulers or foreign invaders is not only historically accurate but essential for national awareness. Our younger generation must know the price their ancestors paid for justice and faith," he told TOI. Sirsa added that the "teachings of Sikh gurus like Guru Nanak or Guru Tegh Bahadur hold relevance in the current socio-political times and must be taught to students." However, the course has drawn criticism from a section of DU teachers for its alleged controversial framing. "The proposed paper is a cause of much concern as it stretches the era of struggle for independence from British colonial rule to the earlier Mughal rule. The course conceals the fact that the Mughals were well assimilated within Indian society. While they unleashed many kinds of oppressions — a general feature of all medieval political players — they did not facilitate a drain of wealth from India to outside and rampant racism, both of which were the hallmarks of British colonialism," said professor Maya John, an academic council member. "Further, for their sustenance, the Mughals nurtured local alliances across religious communities, including the Sikh community, which consequently paved the way for many syncretic traditions and a flourishing social mosaic. Such courses will have an adverse effect on the ways in which future citizenry of the country will reflect back on their past," she added.
The Hindu
27-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
New course on Bhagavad Gita proposed in DU's Political Science syllabus
Delhi University's Political Science department has proposed an elective course, 'Reading Bhagavad Gita', for first-year postgraduate students. It is set to be discussed in the upcoming July 1 meeting of the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs. If approved, the proposal to include it in the syllabus will be listed in the July 5 Academic Council meeting, which is the highest authority on decisions pertaining to syllabus changes. The revisions in the MA programme syllabus under the new Postgraduate Curriculum Framework are in line with the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework that will be implemented from July. As per the 'course objective', it aims to instil Bhagavad Gita's 'universal teachings and socio-ethical relevance in modern times'. It also looks to explore concepts such as 'Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and their practical applications, and understanding the nature of the self (Jiva) and its relationship with the supreme'. The proposed course also aims to provide insights into 'Dhanya Yoga for mental clarity and focus and applying the teachings of the Gita to address contemporary challenges like stress, conflict, and ethical dilemmas'. 'The course enhances critical thinking, emotional resilience, and decision-making skills, empowering students to lead balanced and purposeful lives,' states the 'course outcomes section'. The course is divided into four units — 'History and Background of Srimad-Bhagavadgita', 'Gita and its Commentaries', the concepts of 'Sthitaprajna (a person of steady wisdom)' and 'Svadharma (one's purpose or duty)', and the idea of 'Niskam Karma (desireless action)'. In the proposed course, which carries four credits, many of the recommended readings are by Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 'No critical texts' Prof. N. Sukumar of the Political Science department said, 'Studying the Bhagavad Gita is a good idea, but we have to see whether different perspectives are included in the syllabus. Perspectives that challenge the Gita, such as those of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar, are not included, despite the two having written extensively on the subject. This is how we can tell that the course caters to the Hindutva agenda and not an academic agenda.' However, Harendra Nath Tiwari, a member of the Standing Committee, said, 'I have nothing against Dr. Ambedkar or Periyar, but this is not the right context to study them.' He added that the course is 'crucial' as it 'exposes students to concepts that will liberate them'.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
DU faculty worried about workload, infra gaps ahead of fourth year roll-out
As Delhi University readies for its first batch of fourth-year undergraduate students, teachers are raising red flags over mounting workload and insufficient support. With the seventh and eighth semesters set to begin between late July and early August under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022, faculty members said the university is pushing ahead without a realistic assessment of teaching capacity or infrastructure needs. DU faculty worried about workload, infra gaps ahead of fourth year roll-out A major concern, they alleged, is the growing mismatch between sanctioned teaching hours and the number of hours now required due to the additional academic year. 'In some of our department meetings, we realised there's a huge shortfall,' said a faculty member from the geography department of a prominent DU college, requesting anonymity. 'Our department has around 194–196 sanctioned hours. But with the fourth year included, we now need about 289 hours.' DU is considering deploying guest faculty to help manage the extra teaching load. However, the number of guest teachers allowed is limited. According to a 2019 University Grants Commission (UGC) guideline, guest faculty can only be appointed against sanctioned posts, with an allowance of up to 20% additional appointments over the sanctioned limit. This buffer of 20%, many teachers say, is already exhausted in most colleges. 'When a permanent faculty member goes on leave—maternity or study—their position is filled by a guest teacher and paid from that 20%,' said Rudrashish Chakraborty, associate professor of English at Kirori Mal College. 'That effectively reduces the available guest faculty quota. Now, with a sharp increase in teaching load, we're already falling short of teachers.' Under the UGCF 2022 framework, each of the two upcoming semesters will carry 22 credits. One theory or tutorial credit equals one hour, while a practical credit equals two hours. Teachers say that while there is no clarity yet on how the dissertation in the fourth year will be factored into the workload of teachers, it still adds to the burden. 'There's been no formal feasibility assessment. The university appears to be adding an entire year without a plan,' Chakraborty said. The Teaching Programme Committee (TPC), which met on June 10 at Daulat Ram College, further compounded concerns by instructing departments to manage the additional load internally. 'No extra hands will be given for the upcoming fourth-year course,' the committee noted. DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh has said all students completing the third year will be automatically promoted to the fourth year unless they choose to exit early and inform their colleges. 'Colleges are allowed to appoint guest faculty as per UGC norms. And more importantly, if the situation demands, the university will step in to fund the additional guest faculty required,' he said. Abha Dev Habib, a physics faculty member from Miranda House, said, 'If the university is saying that all students graduating from third year will automatically move forward to the fourth year, that would mean colleges and departments must have the infrastructure as well as the teaching strength to support an additional year—along with research, which is supposed to be the focus of the fourth year.' 'Parts of the 20% sanction have already been used by several departments, colleges like Daulat Ram are saying no extra help will be provided, and we lack proper infrastructure. The growing anxiety is quite justified,' Habib added.
New Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Manusmriti will not be taught in any form: DU
NEW DELHI: After the Manusmriti appeared on the reading list of a new undergraduate Sanskrit course at DU this month, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh asserted on Thursday that the text will not be taught at the institution 'in any form'. 'The 'Dharmashastra Studies' course, a Discipline-Specific Core (DSC) paper of the Sanskrit Department, in which Manusmriti was listed as a recommended reading, stands deleted,' the University stated. The University of Delhi on Thursday posted on X, saying, 'University of Delhi will not teach Manusmriti text in any course of the University. 'Dharamshastra Studies', the DSC of the Sanskrit Department, where Manusmriti is mentioned as a 'recommended reading' stands deleted.' The post tagged the Prime Minister and the Education Minister. The book was part of a four-credit course titled Dharamshastra Studies in the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework, contextualized as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The course also included texts such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra.
NDTV
13-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Delhi University Says Manusmriti Won't Be Taught In Any Course
The University of Delhi has clarified that Manusmriti will not be taught in any of its courses. In an official post on X, the university stated that the text, which was listed as "recommended reading" in the Sanskrit department's four-credit course Dharamshastra Studies, has been removed entirely. The course has now been deleted from the curriculum. Introduced under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Dharamshastra Studies paper also included texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra. The decision comes amid recurring debates around the inclusion of Manusmriti in academic syllabi. Earlier in March, Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh had said that the text would not be part of any study material at DU, following approval by a history department panel to include it in the History (Honours) syllabus. A similar controversy arose last year when the Faculty of Law proposed introducing Manusmriti to law students, a move later withdrawn after facing protests from faculty members. Reaffirming the university's stance, Vice Chancellor Singh told Hindustan Times, "Our stand remains the same. Manusmriti will not be taught in any course in DU. The university had made that clear in the past as well. The text has been removed from the Sanskrit department's Dharamshastra Studies. In the future also, whenever it comes to our notice that the text has been suggested for studying, the administration will remove it."
