DU's FYUP mayhem continues

History, Sociology courses not yet passed

With just a week left for the admission season of Delhi University to start under the new four-year undergraduation programme (FYUP) format, the executive council members are clueless regarding a meeting to be held to decide the recently amended curriculum of Sociology and History by the academic council.

AC and EC are the highest statutory bodies that take decisions on university matters. Once approved by the AC, the agenda papers are tabled in the EC, which can suggest changes and send back the proposal. Admission start on June 5.

DU called for a second AC meeting this month on May 27. Usually, AC and EC meeting dates are announced together.

According to AC members, curriculums of History and Sociology were sent to Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) on May 21. “In the last AC meeting, when a majority courses under FYUP were passed, these two courses were yet to be prepared. There were dissents from several senior professors, including the head of department of Sociology,” said a member.
From FSS, the curriculum was sent to the standing committee on May 26, which objected to several issues.

“The standing committee members said that in the History curriculum, the major (Discipline-1) and minor (Discipline-2) papers have less difference.

Also DC-2 had two options. The members decided that there will be no options and only Indian History will be taught in DC-2. The objection from History teachers was that DC-2 is being offered to non-History students, and restricting them to study only Indian History is not full knowledge,” said an AC member.

Another problem raised in the History curriculum was putting topics like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha under communalism. “The BJP affiliated teaching faculty objected to RSS being taught under communalism.

While the HoD said History cannot be changed, the AC decided to scrap all three topics and stick to a basic topic — communism theory and secular practices,” added the member.
In Sociology, objections were raised over the ‘Left’ tone of papers, calling the syllabus biased.

“Like in a topic capitalism, both the reference books are by Karl Marx. Similarly in caste issues, the reference is restricted to a few authors. A lot of research is being done on Dalit and reserved category issues, which were not included,” said a member, adding that some content on Marx was chopped off in the AC meeting.

Members further said the HoD of Sociology, who was earlier vocal and critical about the structure of FYUP, was allegedly abused and threatened by the chair in the AC meeting.

“A day before the AC meeting, HOD of Sociology Satish Despande was asked to prepare a preamble regarding genesis of the syllabus-making. The HoD mentioned about some problem in making the syllabus and preparing the structure, among others,” said the member.

“Sudhish Pachauri, dean of colleges, threatened Deshpande that action can be taken against those who criticise FYUP in the media.