Students from northeast write to PM over FYUP

New format sparks concerns over 'compulsory' Hindi in its syllabus

Delhi University students from the north-eastern states have submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday stating several problems in the four year undergraduation programme will be implemented from this academic session.

Earlier, students from North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) had organised a series of protests to oppose the learning of language — Hindi or Modern Indian Language — in the first year of the new format.

“After several rounds of protests, the human resource development ministry gave us an assurance that not just the language clause but any other aspect of the proposed set of reforms that goes against the interests of the students from north-east will be scrapped,” said Chinglen Khumukcham, a member of NEFIS.

“Following this the administration also gave a written assurance that Hindi will not be imposed, however, to our shock, we noticed that in the new syllabus passed and finalised by the university last week, it is still compulsory as a foundation course,” the member said.
In the recently held academic council meeting, the university decided that those who have studied Hindi up to class 8 have to study the language under the foundation course of FYUP.

No exemption

“The syllabus that was passed and finalised by the university last week has no mention of exempting the north-eastern students,” added the member.

Students from north-east also said the exit points in the degree will adversely affect them as majority of them belong to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.