Latest
DU Beat – Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper
Tag

Slider

Browsing
DUB News

Major DU PG Syllabus Cuts on Religion, LGBTQ+ and Pakistan Spark Faculty Divide

By

Delhi University’s PG syllabus cuts on religion, caste, LGBTQ+ issues, and Pakistan spark faculty backlash, raising concerns over academic freedom and ideological interference.

On 25 June 2025, the Standing Committee of the University of Delhi (DU) proposed several contentious changes to the postgraduate syllabi of Geography, Sociology, and Political Science. The revisions include the removal or significant reworking of content related to religion, caste, LGBTQ+ issues, and the study of Pakistan. The changes have triggered widespread criticism from faculty members, with further discussion scheduled in the upcoming meeting on 1 July.

In the Department of Geography, three major papers were affected. In the elective paper Territorial Bases of Politics in India, the committee objected to Unit 3, titled “Internal Conflicts and Problems of Nation Building,” which addressed religious conflicts. A key reading, The Production of Hindu Muslim Violence in Contemporary India, was removed. In Social Geography, Unit 4 on “Distribution of SC Population” was eliminated. According to committee members, this decision was made to de-emphasise caste-related material. Additionally, Vulnerability and Disaster, another elective, was completely removed from the syllabus.

The Sociology syllabus also saw significant intervention. In Introduction to Sociological Theory, the committee questioned the absence of Indian thinkers and suggested their inclusion. Objections were raised regarding the inclusion of the reading Weston, K. (1997). Families We Choose: Lesbians, Gays, Kinship, as same-sex marriage is not legally recognised in India. In Sociology of Religion, Unit IV on Religious Authority and Organizations was flagged for using academic terms such as “church,” “sect,” and “cult.” Members questioned why terms like “rishi-muni” were excluded. Despite faculty clarification that these were standard sociological terms, the committee still recommended revision.

Urban Sociology also faced changes. The committee argued that Unit 2 focused excessively on violence. Key readings addressing religion and caste were removed, including The Muharram Procession of Mumbai, Animating Caste: Visceral Geographies of Pigs, Caste and Violent Nationalisms in Chennai City, and Deceptive Majority: Dalits, Hinduism, and Underground Religion.

Some faculty members have raised concerns about the committee’s role in mandating syllabus revisions.

The Standing Committee’s direction to the Departments of Geography and Sociology to change their syllabi defies academic rationale and is an act of overreach. While the Standing Committee can share inputs and feedback with the departments, it cannot direct the departments to remove papers and readings without giving academic justification.”

said Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College and elected member of the DUTA Executive (2023–25).

The Political Science syllabus came under the most scrutiny. Faculty members were directed to ensure the content remained “India-centric” and avoided material that “glorifies Pakistan.” This instruction aligns with Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh’s earlier stance amid recent geopolitical tensions.

Dr. Monami Sinha opposed the changes, stating,

“It is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India’s constant foreign policy challenges.”

Four electives relating to China, Pakistan, and Islam in international relations were removed. These included Pakistan and the World, China’s Role in the Contemporary World, Islam and International Relations, and Pakistan: State and Society. In Religious Nationalism and Political Violence, the topic “Sangha politics, civil warfare and the peace process” was removed, along with the reading by Blom Hansen on Hindu nationalism and violence.

Read Also: DU Student Murdered by her Classmate; Body Burnt at Delhi’s Sanjay Van.

Image Credit: Times of India

Yashika Jain 

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

Delhi University Faces Backlash For Linguistic Misrepresentation In CSAS UG Admission Form

By

Delhi University’s CSAS 2025 UG admission form has drawn criticism for listing “Muslim” as a mother tongue while omitting Urdu, a constitutionally recognized language. Academics condemned the move as communal, culturally reductive, and violative of constitutional linguistic rights.

 

Delhi University’s Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) 2025 form for undergraduate admissions has sparked widespread criticism after it listed “Muslim” as a mother tongue. Meanwhile, Urdu, a constitutionally recognised language under the Eighth Schedule, is absent. Screenshots showed that DU’s online application form included terms like “Muslim”, “Bihari”, “Mochi”, “Kurmi”, and other caste/regional labels in the “Mother Tongue” dropdown while omitting Urdu. This negligent act has sparked outrage, as students and professors took to social media platforms to point out the underlying communal rhetoric.

This is not just a clerical error. It reflects a deep-rooted communal mindset that reduces an entire community to a religious label, stripping away linguistic, cultural and regional identities. Muslim is not a language. Muslims speak the same languages as others in their regions, be it Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, or Urdu.”

Said Professor Abha Dev Habib, Democratic Teachers’ Front general secretary 

 

The academicians and students argued that the choice of replacing Urdu with Muslim, apart from being factually incorrect, also implies that Muslims are incapable of having any other mother tongue than Urdu. This not only erases the linguistic diversity of Indian Muslims but also reduces an entire community’s cultural identity to a single, inaccurate label.

….this act of the DU administration is a serious threat to the Constitution of India, as it violates the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, and also it undermines the composite and the inclusive spirit of a central university! No administration of DU had been so overtly communal as the present one, and this recent assault on Urdu takes the cake!”

Stated Prof. Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor and DUTA Executive

He further stated that such a development is “a calculated act of communalism”. He added that DU seems to have mistakenly assumed that Urdu is exclusive to Muslims; it does not mean only erasing a language, but it also entails erasing a shared cultural and literary legacy.

It is sad that a premier university like Delhi University is committing such mistakes. These should be rectified immediately. Diversities and multilingualism need to be acknowledged and respected,” said Dr Mithuraaj Dhusiya, Executive Council member.

This exclusive stance from prominent central universities also raises questions about the larger ethos shaping the actions of the current administration as members of academia worry about its “rabidly communal” policies.

Read Also: Delhi University Launches a New Course Titled ‘Negotiating Intimate Relationships’ for 2025-26 Academic Session

 

Image Credits: Devesh, DU Beat

 

DU Beat

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

Delhi University Launches a New Course Titled ‘Negotiating Intimate Relationships’ for 2025-26 Academic Session

By

Delhi University has introduced a new undergraduate elective titled “Negotiating Intimate Relationships” for the 2025–26 session. Aimed at addressing rising emotional distress and youth violence, the course explores love, intimacy, and toxicity in digital and real-life relationships.

Delhi University has introduced a first-of-its-kind undergraduate elective titled “Negotiating Intimate Relationships” for the 2025–26 academic session. The four-credit elective, offered by the Department of Psychology, is open to students across disciplines and colleges and is aimed at helping young adults understand and navigate the complex realities of romantic and platonic relationships in a digital age.

Amidst increasing overlaps between digital and physical spaces, the course seeks to equip students with the tools to understand, reflect on, and negotiate romantic and platonic relationships in the age of dating apps.

The course consists of three lectures and one tutorial each week and is structured into four major modules, including Theories of Love and Sexuality, The Psychology of Friendships and Intimacy, Recognising and Responding to Toxic Patterns and Building and Sustaining Healthy Long-term Relationships.

Designed as an interactive course, students will be asked to analyse their own social media networks, engage with everyday relational challenges, and analyse pop cultural depictions as well as real-life case studies. The course aims to use personal and digital experiences as key sites of exploration.

Pop culture will play a central role in these explorations, with films like Kabir Singh and Titanic used to critique how toxic behaviour is often romanticised in mainstream media. Students will also use Sternberg’s triangular love scale to assess one’s love towards a romantic partner.

“Films like Kabir Singh reflect how unhealthy behaviours are often glorified as passion, and we unconsciously absorb those ideas,” said Rishika Raj, a second-year student at Bharati College, DU.

The course has been introduced in the backdrop of a rising number of crimes among teenagers and young adults, many of which stem from unchecked emotional turmoil and toxic relationship dynamics. Between May and June alone, Delhi recorded at least three murders connected to possessiveness and emotional manipulation in young romantic relationships.

“I can say from personal experience that one faces a lot of hardships when it comes to navigating relationships at this age. We’ve never really been taught the do’s and don’ts of intimate relationships,” said Kumari Kajal, a first-year student at Hansraj College.

According to Naveen Kumar, a professor from DU’s Department of Psychology, young people today face unique relational challenges that earlier generations did not.

“With both parents working and ‘digital parenting’ on the rise, young people are granted a kind of freedom they aren’t always emotionally equipped to handle,” he told AajTak.


 “People want freedom but don’t know where the boundaries lie. This lack of clarity leads to stress, mistrust, and often the breakdown of relationships.” He further added

Professor Kumar also pointed to the increasing transactional nature of modern relationships, which are often built more on intensity and immediate gratification than on emotional resilience. He warned that this shift can escalate to dangerous extremes, as evidenced by the recent spike in violent incidents among teenagers and young adults in Delhi.

According to reports, the university introduced this course in response to growing concerns about emotional distress and rising instances of violence rooted in toxic relationships among young people. Through structured academic engagement, the goal is to help students build emotional awareness and develop resilience.

Read Also: Exploring the state of teen love in an ever changing landscape

Image Credits: Hindu College

DU Beat

Keep Reading
By
DUB News

DU Student Murdered by Her Classmate; Body Burnt at Delhi’s Sanjay Van

By

An 18-year-old student from Delhi University was allegedly lured by her classmate, Arshkrit Singh into Sanjay Van where she was stabbed, strangled and murdered by him. 

Just five days before her 19th birthday, an 18-year-old was reported missing on June 1st and was found murdered at South Delhi’s Mehrauli. The alleged murderer who was the victim’s classmate, Arshkrit Singh has reportedly been arrested. Police reports state that both the victim and the accused were students of Delhi University’s School of Open Learning. 

According to reports, the victim left her residence at Jahangirpuri for classes on Sunday morning but did not return home. 

She had last informed her mother around noon that she would be back soon. When she failed to return, her family began searching for her,

a senior police officer reported.

Later that day, the family of the victim received a call from the accused’s father who claimed that the victim had attacked Arshkrit with a knife that led to his hospitalisation in Pitampura. This prompted the victim’s parents to file a complaint with the police and register a kidnapping case. 

Based on suspicion and past altercations between the victim and Arshkrit, the complainant alleged that he may have abducted her,

a police officer told the Deccan Herald, 

Further investigation of CCTV footage led the police to Singh who was arrested. On further questioning, he revealed that he had lured the victim to a secluded area of Sanjay Van where he had stabbed and strangled her to death and attempted to burn her body. 

After the attack, he tried to burn the body. He sustained minor injuries during the stabbing and fled to the hospital for treatment. The body was discovered based on his information,

stated the Deputy Commission of Police (South Delhi), Ankit Chauhan.

In a conversation with Times of India, the victim’s family revealed that Singh had been harassing the victim, his daughter for months after she had cut off all ties with him. They further denied her being in a relationship with Singh and stated that they met at a party where they became friends. The victim’s father said, 

We advised both of them not to meet, yet the youth would come to my house every couple of months to start arguments. We informed his parents too. Though he apologised, the harassment continued. 

He further added that Singh had allegedly disrupted his daughter’s Korean language class by starting an argument and twisting her hand. In conversation with the Indian Express, the victim’s sister revealed, 

He met my mother near the gurdwara. When my mother confronted him about his coercive behaviour, he grabbed my mother’s hand and tried to snatch my sister’s phone from her

She further added,

He used to often threaten my sister with suicide, which would scare both her and my mother.

Shocking details regarding the case have been revealed by the police who claim that Singh used a fake social media profile of someone the victim knew to lure her to Sanjay Van. Singh was seen entering the forested area at around 8:30 in the morning and the victim was located there at around 10 AM. Leading her to an isolated spot, Singh stabbed the victim multiple times, strangled her and tried to burn her body. He was later spotted exiting the area in the afternoon. 

On Sunday, they sat and talked about their relationship for almost two hours before he killed her… she had apparently told him that she was betrothed to someone else, which was when the situation escalated,

a senior police officer revealed.

In conversation with the Indian Express, Singh’s neighbours expressed disbelief at the accusations.

Alleged statements by the accused reveal that he suspected that the girl was speaking to other boys which led to frequent arguments and ultimately led to him planning the murder. While investigations are currently underway to determine the actual motive, the murder weapon has been found and the accused has been reportedly booked under Section 103(1) for murder and Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy.

Read also: Minor Girl Rescued After Gang Rape Near Moolchand, Alleged Police Inaction

 

Image Credit: Hindustan Times

Aaratrika Ghosh

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Fire Breaks Out at DU’s Guru Gobind Singh College: Over 3000 Books Destroyed, No Casualties Reported

By

Delhi University’s Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce reported a massive fire in the college library on Thursday morning, destroying over 3000 books and leading to the cancellation of the morning semester exams. 

In Northwest Delhi’s Pitampura, a massive fire was reported at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, University of Delhi in the morning hours of Thursday, May 15th, 2025. According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) chief Atul Garg, the fire broke out around 8:55 in the morning and 11 fire tenders were rushed to the college who managed to bring the situation under control by 9:40 A.M. In response to the ongoing cooling operations, a senior fire official added, 

Several window panes shattered due to the high flames, and the fire spread rapidly due to strong winds. Our teams responded swiftly and managed to douse the flames.”

Originating in the college library, the fire impacted the building’s first, second and third floors, extensively damaging the infrastructure and academic material. Reports state that though there were no casualties, over 3000 books have been destroyed along with the library’s online system being damaged. Although investigations are currently underway to determine the exact cause, a senior college official informed the Press Trust of India, 

A short circuit in the library’s server triggered the fire, extensively damaging hundreds of books in the section that housed old books. The library is still filled with smoke, and a detailed assessment of the losses will be possible only once visibility improves.”

Sri Guru Gobind Singh College’s Principal expanding on the extent of damage added, 

“Only the top floor of the library was caught in the fire. The books on that floor were damaged due to the blaze, but we kept old editions of books and those in less circulation on the top floor. The newer editions of books were on the ground and second floors. There was no damage to our archival section as it is not on the top floor.”

Although there is widespread damage, the library’s facility system is reportedly functional with the manual issuing of books to students amid the ongoing end-semester examinations of Delhi University. Around 400 undergraduate students were scheduled to take the examination during the morning session which was cancelled in lieu of the fire breakout. However, since the library was housed in a separate building, the examinations scheduled to take place from 2:30 to 5:30 P.M. were conducted after the handover by the fire department. In conversation with the Indian Express, Principal Jatinder Bir Singh further stated, 

Since lights were to be cut off for the fire department to extinguish the fire, we postponed the exams scheduled in the morning. Afternoon examinations went on as usual. The controller of examination is yet to notify a fresh date for the exams”. 

Recently, Delhi University’s Kalindi College reported a ceiling fall falling on the head of a faculty member causing serious injury. In light of such incidents outrage has sparked amongst students who raised concerns of student-faculty safety and welfare over the deteriorating condition of the infrastructure of DU colleges. In a statement released by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on 15th May, they questioned the negligence and demanded immediate safety audits in all colleges throughout Delhi University. 

 

Read also: Thefts and an Unaccountable Administration Raise Concerns at Kirori Mal College

Image Credits: The Telegraph

Aaratrika Ghosh

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
News

Minor Girl Rescued After Gang Rape Near Moolchand, Alleged Police Inaction

By

A minor girl allegedly trafficked from West Bengal was rescued after enduring months of abuse, culminating in a gang rape near Moolchand Metro Station in South Delhi. The survivor was held captive for nearly five months. After escaping, she came under the control of an auto driver in Delhi, who allegedly raped her repeatedly over a week. On the night of May 5th, he and others allegedly gang-raped her near the Moolchand Metro area. The accused, reportedly an auto driver, confessed to the crime at the police station.

A local rickshaw puller who found the girl in distress informed locals, who were out feeding stray dogs, about her condition. The locals found the girl curled up under a sheet. She spoke in Bengali that neither they nor the rickshaw puller could fully understand until a translator was called. When the girl saw a man pass by, she began screaming.

The rickshaw puller explained that this was the auto driver she was accusing of rape and abuse. When confronted, the accused became violent and struck the girl in front of others. A crowd gathered and beat him before escorting both the victim and the accused to the Amar Colony Police Station. At the station, the auto driver reportedly confessed. Despite this, he was allowed to rest in an air-conditioned room while the victim was made to sit on two uncomfortable chairs. After undergoing a medical examination for sexual assault, she was not administered painkillers or any form of trauma care.

Formal action has been delayed. The incident took place on a service road near Frank Anthony Public School, close to Moolchand Metro Station. The location is in proximity to educational institutions like Lady Shri Ram College for Women and Bluebells International School, and lies within a densely populated student-occupied PG area in the National Park.

The area where the crime occurred is frequently used by students and young professionals, many of whom identify it as unsafe. Students have long reported incidents of sexual harassment, flashing, and even attempted abductions along the back gate’s service road. These complaints have rarely received official acknowledgement or resulted in increased security

I have personally felt threatened several times on my way to college every day. With such incidents of casual harassment happening on quite literally every possible road you could take within the area, safety becomes a privilege. The complacency and at times, indifference of the Amar Colony Police Station only further compounds this issue. We are left with no alternative but to leave our own campus early, in the hopes of avoiding creepy men
– Student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women

The survivor provided detailed accounts of sexual assault, including the use of foreign objects and burn marks on her body. Despite this, police were allegedly reluctant to file a formal complaint, and one of the accused has already fled the state. Some are concerned that delayed legal action may once again deny justice.

National media outlets such as The Times of India and The Indian Express reported the incident, which has been criticised by the original complainant for its inconsistencies, calling the girl a “vagabond” and misstating her age, and further, for reinforcing victim-blaming narratives. Students of Lady Shri Ram College who were planning to go to the Amar Colony Police Station to raise complaints were asked to refrain by the original complainant, due to escalating tensions there. They expressed a desire for the child to have her hearing with the magistrate on 8th May, without disruptions. A peaceful protest may be organised soon.

This incident in itself, however, is not isolated. It reflects a systemic failure to protect survivors and ensure public safety. The imbalance in how the accused and victim were treated highlights deeper issues within the system, where those seeking justice are often left to suffer in silence while perpetrators evade punishment. As students and residents in the area continue to demand accountability, the case has sparked renewed calls for police reform, institutional sensitivity, and tangible steps to make Delhi safe for all.

Image Credits: ETV Bharat

Ritobrita Mukherjee

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

NEXUS’25: In Sri Venkateshwara’s Fest, Jashn-e-Dilli Took Centre-Stage

By

University of Delhi’s Sri Venkateswara College witnessed a massive footfall following the culmination of its Annual Fest, NEXUS, in March.

Sri Venkateswara College, under the aegis of the University of Delhi, celebrated its Annual Fest, NEXUS, on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of March this year. Upon entering the college gates, one witnesses what appears to be the college’s way of presenting an ode to Delhi—a Jashn-E-Dilli, if you will. Every corner has been decorated with banners naming popular sites of everyday pilgrimage, from the Faqir Chand and Sons bookstore to Sarojini Nagar.

An inauguration ceremony preceded the performance of the Dramatics Society of the college as they took to the front lawns on Day 1 from 9.30 A.M. onwards to celebrate Madari’25, an annual street play event, abuzz with the energy of the performers. Crescendo, the Western Music Society of Sri Venkateswara College, presented the Battle of Bands from 1 to 5 P.M. as a tribute to Delhi, the heart of the country’s music revolution. In the midst of it all, Alaap, the Indian Music Society of the college, presented Raageshwari, a polyphony of melodies, at the Indian Classical Choir Competition. While Nrityangana, the Indian Dance Society, took to the dance floor in solo and group dance competitions.

As you enter the building, leaving behind the cacophony of singing voices and the chants of the dramatists, you are met with Mehfil-e-Tamasha, an improv battle taking place in Room 57. If there is one thing that has stood out by now, it was the dedication with which all artists performed, the veneration they heaped onto artistry, eventuating in a showdown for the history books.

Kurukshetra, the crew-based dance competition, preceded the performance of the night by The Frequency Project, who gave music a Sufi spin in their own rendition of popular classics.

Day 2 was marked by Effulgence, Sri Venkateswara’s Photography Society’s annual display, Kodachrome, taking place in tandem with Opera D’Arte 3.0, Leonci Art Society’s annual display. A student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, who planned on staying for the Mr. Professor’s DJ nights after participating in H#, the Western Acapella Competition, stated:

It’s been an interesting run so far. The wins were well-deserved. I’m staying here till 6 for the DJ.

As is the case with every DU-affiliated college, the sole event that marked Day 3 was the performance of the much-awaited artist. This time, Javed Ali of Guzarish fame took to the stage. Post Dilli Ke Darshan, the concert gave people in the audience a lifetime of memories and then some more.

Featured Image Credits: Arush for DU Beat

Aastha Singh

[email protected] 

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Nexus 2025: Final Day Descends into Chaos amid Overcrowding

By

The final day of Nexus 2025 at Sri Venkateswara College saw unexpected crowd surges, security lapses, and logistical issues, raising concerns about event management and attendee safety.

Sri Venkateshwara College (SVC) hosted its annual fest, Nexus, from March 3 to March 5, 2025, bringing together students from across Delhi for three days of music, cultural events, competitions, and live performances. However, the third day in particular witnessed an overwhelming surge in attendees due to the much-anticipated concert by renowned singer Javed Ali with an estimate of over 6000 people inside the venue. The massive turnout quickly spiraled out of control, with people even jumping over the college fences in an attempt to enter the premises, leading to injuries, security violations, and more chaotic scenes at the venue.

Even though the official instructions stated that the college gates would be closed by 2 PM, they were shut as early as 1:45 PM, leading to a massive crowd gathering right outside the campus gate. Many students, including members of the organizing committee, repeatedly requested the guards to reopen the gates, but their pleas were ignored due to the already overwhelming number of people inside the college premises. The situation quickly turned disorderly as students found themselves trapped as those outside struggled to get in, while several inside were unable to leave due to the tightly packed crowd blocking the exit as the same gates were being used for both the entry and the exit. Moreover, the crowd outside the gates was so dense that students caught in the middle or near the front had no clear path to vacate the place either.

In conversation with DU Beat, a Delhi University student, Kalyani said,

 

The crowd was so packed outside the gate that even though we wanted to leave, we were trapped there for 3 hours outside the campus until the gates were reopened. Even though the police were trying to get people to leave, it was incredibly difficult since there was no way out of the crowd, making the entire situation a lot more suffocating.

Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that beyond the suffocating conditions, the crowd was also unsafe with many female students facing groping and harassment. She said, “We noticed that no one was following the queue, and everyone had gathered at the gate, so we decided to join the crowd. However, the situation turned unpleasant as I faced a lot of groping and misconduct, which was horrible, but apart from that, once we were inside, it was fine.”

While many students blamed management, the organizers had a different perspective. Talking to DU Beat, Nandini Das, the Vice President of the SVC student union, stated,

Well, we had over 6000 students inside the campus area, and the same number of students were waiting outside the campus. As a union member, it was very tough for me as well as my fellow members to manage because we had a management team of at least 50-100 who were looking after a crowd of 6000 plus. But hopefully the police and CRPF had helped us a lot, and also the injured people were provided medical service immediately. And I think you can’t blame anyone for mismanagement because I do believe that you should have some civic and moral sense of how to behave in a public place. Out of 6000, if 1000 people are trying to violate the protocol, then I think it’s the individual who’s the problem.

However, students from SVC did have complaints regarding the management of the fest. Vanshika, another student of SVC, said, “It was very chaotic. The roads outside were blocked for over 4 hours, with even Venkateshwara students being stuck outside campus for hours. It should’ve definitely been managed better by either not allowing students from other colleges or by not making them stay outside for so long.”

Beyond the numerous issues faced by those stuck outside and the minor altercations that broke out on campus, there were also allegations of misbehavior by the management towards the media team. Aashvee, a videographer present at the event, revealed,

Despite having barricade passes for the star night as per the official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), our team was subjected to harassment, humiliation, and outright negligence at the hands of the event’s so-called management. Random individuals, including non-students, effortlessly jumped over them and entered restricted areas unchecked. Meanwhile, our media team, stationed in the designated media section as required for coverage, was singled out and aggressively confronted by two members of the event staff.”

Overall, the last day of Nexus 2025 highlighted the difficulties of managing large-scale college events. Overcrowding, security lapses, and logistical challenges created a chaotic environment, leaving both attendees and organisers frustrated and raising concerns about safety. While efforts were made to control the situation, the incidents call attention to the importance of better planning and stricter crowd management in future fests.

Read Also:  Security: The Overrated Inconvenience During Fests at Women’s Colleges

Featured Image Credits: Ayushmaan for DU Beat

Ashita Kedia 

[email protected]  

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

DU to end increment benefits tied to MPhil and PhD holders

By

The University Grants Commission has requested a dismissal of all incentives to MPhil and PhD holding faculty members last month to prevent objections during audits. Potential salary cuts may be in the works.

Several faculty members of the Lakshmibai College of Delhi University possessive of MPhil and PhD degrees had to see pay cuts in their salaries in February following a government directive.

The directive enforced a mandate which had been in place for eight years to roll back increments provided to faculty members on the basis of the seniority of their degree (particularly MPhil and PhD holders). The implementation of the order came as a complete shock to the teaching faculty at Lakshmibai College, who then arranged a meeting with Principal Pratush Vatsala in February itself to further discuss matters.

The matter could be traced back to 2010, when the University Grants Commission had declared five salary increments for PhD holders, three for faculty members on study leaves for a PhD as well as MPhil holders and one for acquiring an MPhil in service.

Then, in 2017, The Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) advocated a discontinuation of these benefits, citing benefits in relation to relaxation of required experience for promotion of faculty members from the position of assistant professor to associate professor.

The decision had yet to see implementation following Delhi University’s silence on the matter. The University Grants Commission, however, has advocated for a disruption of incentives to avoid audit objections in the near future. So far, Lakshmibai College and Shyam Lal Evening College have implemented the order. In a conversation with The Telegraph, a Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) Member had stated,

The UGC’s 2018 regulations continue the incentives. It has helped in attracting candidates with research qualifications to join institutions. Withdrawal of the incentives will adversely affect teacher quality in institutions.

The Delhi University Teachers’ Association has declared a strike for all incumbent members on 7th March (Friday), from 10.00 A.M. to 05:00 P.M. with an order of suspension of all classes until then.

Read Also: Delhi University VC Sparks Debate by Dropping Baburnama and Manusmriti from UG History Syllabus

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat Media Library

Aastha Singh
[email protected]

Keep Reading
By
Campus Central

Delhi University VC Sparks Debate by Dropping Baburnama and Manusmriti from UG History Syllabus

By

Delhi University withdrew its proposal to include the Hindu religious text, Manusmriti and Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama), the memoir of the Mughal King Babur, from the undergraduate History curriculum after opposition from faculty members and the DU Vice-Chancellor. 

Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh condemned and dropped a proposal to include the texts, Manusmriti and Baburnama in the undergraduate syllabus for History on Tuesday, 4th March, 2024, following resistance from faculty members. He clarified that such texts were not worth the consideration of being included in the curriculum and would be overruled in similar future proposals as well. 

On February 19th, the History Department’s Joint Committee of Courses cleared the proposal for the inclusion of Manusmriti and Baburnama into the undergraduate curriculum. However, faculty members from across Delhi University colleges criticised the proposal for lacking ‘critical perspective’ and objected to teaching the texts. Upon review by the Vice Chancellor, the proposal now stands withdrawn. Official reports claim that the History Department looks to schedule a review meeting to formally withdraw the proposed inclusion. In a statement to the Indian Express, Singh further stated that he would exercise his emergency powers to prevent the proposal from being introduced for review in the next Academic Council meeting. 

Singh, questioning the relevance of the texts, told the Hindustan Times,

We do not want to consider such texts which are not acceptable to many, and will create chaos in the system. We are in the 21st century and there is no need to teach these. Under the New Education Policy (NEP 2020), we want to bring new courses in accordance with Indian traditions, which will benefit the country and society.

Specifically, he criticised Baburnama as an “autobiography of a tyrant” with no relevance of being taught in today’s time. 

However, faculty members of Delhi University remain divided upon the inclusion of Manusmriti and Baburnama – while some professors strongly urged their removal, others defended the historicity of the primary texts. 

Associate Professor Surendra Kumar, strongly resisting the proposal, wrote to the Vice Chancellor criticising Manusmriti for “glorifying exploitation and oppression” and being “against the idea of Bharat” and argued against Baburnama for glorifying an invader’s widespread “destruction of people in Bharat”.

Professor Latika Gupta stated,

Manusmriti is a document that reflects the web of Brahmanical patriarchy and the objectification of women. Historians consider it the most prominent text of the Brahmanical system. If it is taught and treated as sacred literature, then there are serious problems. This is not a good step. It must be challenged. 

Other faculty members defended the inclusion of texts through their historical context as primary sources rather than an endorsement of their oppressive ideas. A faculty member in conversation with Indian Express stated,

How can one understand caste and discrimination if they do not read Manusmriti? To understand inequality and discrimination, one must educate themselves. After all, that is what a university space should be all about.

This is, however, not the first time that debates have sparked regarding the inclusion of Manusmriti in the Delhi University curriculum. Last year, a similar proposal to include the Hindu religious text into the LLB syllabus received resistance from the Faculty of Law and was ultimately withdrawn. The Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan too commented against the inclusion of such a controversial text in the university curriculum. 

Read Also: Delhi University Rejects Proposal to Add Manusmriti in the LLB Syllabus Post Severe Backlash

Image Credits: Devesh, DU Beat

Aaratrika Ghosh

[email protected]

Keep Reading
By