New Delhi: The Faculty of Law of Delhi University is all set to introduce the Manusmriti, in its undergraduate programme under a paper called Jurisprudence (Legal Method).
The introduction of the controversial text, which is widely criticised for extoling and reinforcing social, economic and gender inequalities, has prompted in some sections of faculty members in the varsity to raise concern over the move, reported The Indian Express.
The revised syllabus document which will have Manusmriti will be placed before the DU’s Academic Council for Academic Matters on Friday (July 12) to pass its implementation.
Once it is passed, the Manusmriti along with the Manubhasya of Medhatithi by G N Jha will be introduced as a suggested reading under Unit V-Analytical Positivism of the undergraduate course paper in Bachelor of Laws or Legum Baccalaureus or LLB in Semester 1 from the upcoming academic session, reported The Indian Express.
“The Manusmriti has been introduced in line with the NEP 2020 to introduce Indian perspectives into learning. The unit under which it has been introduced in itself is an analytical unit. Hence, in order to bring in more perspective for the student to compare and understand analytical positivism, this step has been taken,” Professor Anju Vali Tikoo, Dean, Faculty of Law, told The Indian Express.
The decision to introduce Manusmriti in the syllabus as a suggested reading has been protested by Social Democratic Teachers Front, who in a letter to Yogesh Singh, the Vice-Chancellor of DU said that the move is highly objectionable as Manusmriti is adverse to the progress and education of women and marginalised communities.
“In the country, 85 per cent of the population belongs to the marginalized and 50 per cent of the population is women. Their progress depends on a progressive education system and teaching pedagogy, not regressive. In Manusmriti, in several sections, it opposed women’s education and equal rights. Introduction of any section or part of Manusmriti is against the basic structure of our Constitution and principles of Indian Constitution,” the letter by the Social Democratic Teachers Front said, reported The Indian Express.
