A demand to introduce Maithili as one of the languages offered by the University has been raised by a section of teachers from the University of Delhi.
This comes into light after the Delhi Government had announced the proposal of having Maithili as a subject for the students whose mother language is Maithili. It will be taught as an optional subject for classes 8 to 12 in Delhi schools.
In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Yogesh Tyagi by Associate Professor Rajiv Kumar Verma from Satyawati College, the latter puts forward various reasons for introducing Maithili as a part of the subjects offered by the University.
He brings into light that during the academic session this year, Maithili Elective/Core were included in the language subjects. Further strengthening his stand, he said that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) also introduced Maithili as an optional paper in which many candidates have been successful.
Mr. Verma has been a former Academic Council (AC) member.
The action has been perceived as a welcome move throughout the University.
Mr. Rajesh Jha, a member of the University’s executive council quotes, “Maithili is spoken in areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar. This year, around 50,000 students had applied from UP and 15,120 from Bihar for admission in DU.”
As of now, the University of Delhi’s Department of Modern Indian Languages offers courses in languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada and Gujarati amongst others but not in Maithili.
It is therefore expected that having the language would grab the interest of a large number of students studying in the University.
Delhi University Student’s Union (DUSU) President Mr. Akshat Dahiya also said that the introduction of Maithili will be a great inclusionary step for the students from Purvanchal and encouraged the move.
Feature Image Credits: DU Beat Archives.
Amrashree Mishra