If you are a student seeking admissions in Delhi University who has studied one of the Indian languages like Malayalam, Odia, Marathi or any other language then you would face a deduction of 2.5%. This provision in the admission process of the central university has made its way into the national politics with the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan writing to the Prime Minister and the HRD minister about this language bias being imposed upon students on Tuesday.

Vijayan wrote, “It has been reported that several languages included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, including Malayalam, are not a part of the Modern Indian Languages list considered by the university. It means they cannot be included in the calculation of the “best of four” marks, which determines the aggregate score for admission into DU.” He added that DU’s admission procedures was thus in violation of the Constitution. “It is a matter of great concern that a Central University is penalising their prospective students on the basis of their language, when it ought to lead by example in ensuring national integration,” the letter further said.

While several languages like Hindi, English, Persian, Sanskrit, Urdu, Bengali and Arabic can be included in the best of four. Other languages are excluded from the list because these are not included in the list of modern Indian languages recognised by DU, and the university does not have departments teaching these subjects.

Meanwhile speaking to Indian Express Prof. Devesh Sinha, dean of colleges said “I am afraid the university is not aware of any such letter. If it comes to us, we will look into it”.

Students and teachers of the University who come from different parts of the country have been demanding the University to pay equal attention to Indian Languages for a long time now. Now with the issue stirring up in national politics and political leaders taking cognizance, they hope that the situation will improve.

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Srivedant Kar

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