Delhi Univ protests through songs, poetry

Teachers, students oppose 4-yr grad the creative way

Delhi University students and teachers, who are against implementation of the four-year graduation system, held a protest through poetry, satire and humour on Tuesday.

The protest was organised by Joint Action Body (JAB), a group of teachers who were against implementation of the semester system two years ago.

Posters said ‘DU-bious times is here’ and ‘Baccalaureate for the dumb down’.

Students recited poetry of their experiences in the semester system. “We hurry, we rush, one day we study and the next day we forget. There is no play or to be merry, because there is study to do, classes to attend, but we still forget, everything, the next day. Each student can come up with their own semester blues,” said Rajita, student of Maitreyi College.

Teachers also joined in, singing, reciting satirical poems and songs on the state of the university.

“DU North Campus: news has just been received of the new and simplified, student-friendly courses to be introduced in DU soon. In a glittering ceremony, details of the courses were unveiled, and each course was accompanied by a very short power point (PPT).

In a feat of brevity and super intelligence, each course could be explained in just one ppt slide,” recited a DU teacher.

Bollywood film song Bidi Jalaile was also sung by another teacher. “DU Jalaile, DU jalaile, sabhi mil ke US mein badi aag hai! Aag hai! Aag hai,” it said.

“The university is getting jittery now. We could see it by the sudden signed petition of the vice chancellor’s favourite deans and faculty members a day after the human resource development minister met the VC, hurrying up approvals of various curriculums because there was a request for discussing the new graduation structure in Parliament,” said a Khalsa College teacher.

“The petition was written in such a bad taste. Instead of citing logical and analytical reasons for support of the new graduation system, the university decides on mudslinging on a particular ideology (Left). How very mature,” said the teacher.