DU’s Curriculum Overhaul Betrays India’s Democratic Ethos

BM Kamble, National Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of India unequivocally condemns the Delhi University Standing Committee on Academic Matters’ recent recommendations to remove critical courses and topics from the Political Science, Geography, and Sociology postgraduate curricula. This decision represents a blatant assault on academic freedom, intellectual integrity, and the pursuit of truth in higher education. We stand in solidarity with the faculty members, students, and academic community who are rightfully outraged by this politically motivated attempt to sanitize and censor knowledge in one of India’s premier institutions.

The committee’s directive to eliminate courses such as Pakistan and the World, China’s Role in the Contemporary World, Islam and International Relations, Pakistan: State and Society, and Religious Nationalism and Political Violence from the MA Political Science syllabus is not only academically shortsighted but also a dangerous step toward stifling critical discourse on pressing geopolitical issues. These subjects are vital for equipping students with the analytical tools to navigate India’s complex foreign policy landscape and engage with global realities. Similarly, the removal of references to caste and communal violence is a deliberate attempt to erase discussions on systemic inequalities and social justice—issues that lie at the heart of India’s democratic ethos.

We are particularly alarmed by the committee’s move to de-emphasize caste-related topics, such as the Distribution of SC Population in Geography and the exclusion of critical sociological frameworks that address caste-based discrimination. Caste remains a lived reality for millions of Indians, and suppressing its study in academia is an insidious effort to undermine the struggles of marginalized communities and whitewash India’s social history. The SDPI views this as a direct attack on the principles of social justice and equality that our party has championed since its inception.

The pretext of creating an “India-centric” curriculum, as articulated by committee members aligned with nationalist agendas, is a thinly veiled excuse for imposing ideological conformity. The directive to remove Western theorists like Marx, Weber, and Durkheim from Sociology betrays a regressive mindset that seeks to isolate Indian scholarship from global discourses and suppress ideas. Such actions not only diminish the academic rigor of Delhi University but also betray the aspirations of students who seek a world-class education capable of addressing contemporary challenges.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of these recommendations and call for a transparent, inclusive process involving faculty, students, and stakeholders to safeguard the integrity of Delhi University’s curriculum.