Discussion on Ramayana in Delhi University

Updated on: Tuesday, February 14, 2012

It has been six months since the removal of scholar A K Ramanujan's essay 'Three Hundred Ramayanas' incensed the teaching fraternity at Delhi University, but the rumblings have refused to die down.

A group of mostly Left-bent organisations of teachers and students is reviving their campaign against the withdrawal of the essay by organising a public talk on the issue.

The talk to be held on Wednesday will be attended by a number of scholars from within and outside the university.

Titled 'The Ramayana: Versions and Subversions', the talk will see the scholars discuss the numerous versions of the epic tale of Lord Rama, the controversy around the essay, and the "censoring" of education.

The 30-page essay, which offers a number of tellings 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 decision to remove the essay from the History syllabus was taken by the Academic Council in October last year amid much protest.

Groups of teachers and students had come together in a series of protests and debates against the decision last year.

"We see the removal of the essay as part of the policy of this fascist varsity administration that aims to suppress all dissenting voices and squeezing of space for democratic protest," said DUTA Executive Abha Dev Habib.

An online signature campaign was also launched against the decision and among the noted scholars who had signed the petition were Prof Bipin Chandra, Prof Romila Thapar and Prof Mridula Mukherjee.

"We would like to keep this alive as all the issues that we are facing in the University today regarding curtailing of democratic rights are interlinked... We also want our MPs to raise this issue in the parliament," Habib said.

More Education news

• Karnataka department of higher education to further strengthen protection to women students and employees
• Heads of government and private schools directed to keep a close watch on the behaviour of teachers
• Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions submits his report
• Everyone will be given due representation says Goa CM
• Pune Education Department to hold meetings with schools to ensure a smooth RTE implementation
• Health and Medical Education, Forest and Home departments within the ambit of Public Services Guarantee Act
• 'value education' courses in engineering colleges to inculcate better values and character building
• students challenge new NET gidelines
• Proposed multi crore edu city project nearing completion
• 21 engineering colleges affiliated to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University to seek accreditation
• MBBS and PG medical seats to be increased by 50% and 100% respectively from academic year 2013-14
• M S University's faculty of fine arts mired in controversy over a painting hurting religious sentiment
• IICA inks MoU with Bangalore-based National Law School of India University for forging academic partnership
• President asks private players to contribute in improving the standards of higher education
• First technical and medical university at picturesque Apatani Plateau in lower Subansiri district
• Prayas scheme to be extended to 4 more districts
• Jamia Millia Islamia Professor gets Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship
• Japans new government will not waive tution fee to pro-Pyongyang high schools
• Most Israeli high school students found accessing Mobile phone during class hours
• UGC notifies the procedure and criteria for declaration of result for NET to be conducted on 30.12.12