Delhi University Panel Wants Sexuality, Caste and Religious Identity to be Removed From Syllabus: Report

Mangaluru: Delhi University does not want its students to study social topics such as sexual orientation, caste, or religious identity, according to a media report. In a discussion held by the department of psychology on Monday, May 6, the university standing committee sent back the department’s syllabus for revisions, recommending the removal of topics including sexual orientation, caste, religious identity, and an entire elective paper titled “Psychology of Sexuality”.

Mentions of Kashmir, Pakistan or Bangladesh are also to be removed from the syllabus, the university’s standing committee has suggested. 

The report, published in Hindustan Times, states that the proposed changes are part of the university’s overhaul of its undergraduate fourth-year curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework.

Along with the removal of these topics, the committee has also sought the inclusion of Indian epics in the syllabus. “The paper on ‘Psychology of Peace’ must be revamped with examples from the Mahabharata on mediation and negotiation,” an official is quoted as telling the HT reporter.

In an earlier meeting held two days ago, also reported by HT, the committee objected to sections of the psychology syllabus that discussed conflict zones such as Israel-Palestine, Kashmir, and India’s Northeast. The committee suggested these be replaced with the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita to explore “concepts of peace and conflict resolution”. 

Although the standing committee does not hold binding power, its recommendations carry significant weight, influencing the decisions of the university’s academic council. The council is scheduled to meet on May 10. The psychology department is not the only one asked to revise its syllabus. Previously, other departments, including English, biochemistry, Persian, Urdu and philosophy, were asked to revise their syllabi. At least 20 more departments’ syllabi are under review this week.

According to the HT report, along with the elective “Psychology of Sexuality,” the committee has asked the department to remove references to caste and religious identity in the paper “Understanding Diversity”. The committee advised that the paper focus solely on linguistic and cultural diversity. 

The committee has also requested the removal of all Western examples and contexts from the syllabus. Instead, it suggested that Indian traditions and narratives, including examples and characters from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Buddhism, and Jainism, be added to the syllabus.

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