Groups of teachers and students would come together on Monday to protest the removal of scholar AK Ramanujan's essay on Ramayana from the syllabus of History. The protesters have also started an online signature campaign against the decision.
The group of mostly Left-bent organisations, with participating teachers and students from Delhi University and outside, will hold a protest march, which will start from the statue of Vivekananda and culminate at the ViceChancellor's office, to resist what they call an attack on history by right-wing groups.
The group of mostly Left-bent organisations, with participating teachers and students from Delhi University and outside, will hold a protest march, which will start from the statue of Vivekananda and culminate at the ViceChancellor's office, to resist what they call an attack on history by right-wing groups.
The issue was first raised way back in 2008 when a group of ABVP members stormed the Histor y Department to protest the inclusion of `Three Hundred Ramayana's' in the curriculum.
It came to life again earlier this month when the University Academic Council decided to do away with the essay, overruling the History Department council's recommendation.
It came to life again earlier this month when the University Academic Council decided to do away with the essay, overruling the History Department council's recommendation.
An online signature campaign too began, with a protest note addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, already signed by over 960 people as on Sunday.
Notable people who singed the online petition are Prof Bipin Chandra, Prof Romila Thapar and Prof Mridula Mukherjee.
“To delete it (the essay) from the syllabus is an act that is deeply disturbing, an instance of thought policing. Such a measure will only encourage sectarian groups to try and prevent intellectuals from expressing their ideas freely,“ the petition reads.
Notable people who singed the online petition are Prof Bipin Chandra, Prof Romila Thapar and Prof Mridula Mukherjee.
“To delete it (the essay) from the syllabus is an act that is deeply disturbing, an instance of thought policing. Such a measure will only encourage sectarian groups to try and prevent intellectuals from expressing their ideas freely,“ the petition reads.
The essay, which offers a number of telling of the epic story of Lord Rama, including the Jain, Buddhist and Kannada narratives, had not gone down well with sections of the right wing, some of whom called it “blasphemous“. The groups that will join Monday's protest include the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), All India Students Federation (AISF), All India Students Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) among others.
“Should we allow the rightist forces to abolish the subject of history itself by replacing historical inquiry with assertions of faith?“ asks a leaflet circulated by the agitating groups. The Department Council of History faculty had met last week to discuss the issue and to condemn the decision taken by the university's top academic body.
The decision in the Academic Council too had been made in a stormy meeting and at least nine members had raised strong dissent over the issue.
The decision in the Academic Council too had been made in a stormy meeting and at least nine members had raised strong dissent over the issue.
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