July 15, 2024
Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh announced that LLB students will not be taught ‘Manusmriti,’ an ancient Hindu legal text, following a controversy over reports that the proposal to include the manuscript in undergraduate courses was under consideration.
In a video statement, Singh clarified that the Faculty of Law had suggested changes to the paper titled ‘Jurisprudence,’ which included readings on ‘Manusmriti.’ However, these suggestions were rejected by the university administration.
“The Faculty of Law on Thursday suggested changes in the paper titled ‘Jurisprudence,’ including readings on ‘Manusmriti,’ which the university rejected,” said Singh. “A proposal by the Faculty of Law was submitted to the Delhi University administration. They had suggested changes in the paper titled Jurisprudence. One of the changes in the proposal was to include readings on Manusmriti. Delhi University has rejected both the suggested readings and the amendments proposed by the faculty. Students will not be taught about Manusmriti,” the Vice-Chancellor emphasized.
The proposal to teach ‘Manusmriti’ to LLB students is still scheduled for discussion in an upcoming meeting of the Academic Council on Friday.
Anju Wali Tikoo, the dean of the Faculty of Law, defended the proposal, stating, “It is part of understanding our Indian scholars. The meaning that is being construed that it is against women’s empowerment and their education is wrong and that it is against marginalized castes is incorrect. The topic is themed as ‘analytical positivism.'”
“If we don’t understand what our ancient scriptures said and what they meant, then how can we analyze and develop an understanding of studying the course?” she added. Tikoo also mentioned that the recommendations were given by the DU committee and included consultations with scholars, including a retired high court judge. She expressed surprise at the sudden opposition, noting, “There was a standing council meeting on June 25. I was part of that meeting and no one opposed it then. Suddenly some people have woken up.”
The Congress party criticized the BJP over the ‘Manusmriti’ proposal, calling the manuscript ‘unconstitutional.’ The party’s Scheduled Caste department called for protests against the proposed move at the state and district levels. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Congress’s student wing, announced plans to stage protests in universities across the country over the issue.
The Congress alleged that the proposal was a covert attempt to replace the Constitution with ‘Manusmriti.’ Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using “salami tactics” to “assault the Constitution” and fulfill “RSS’s decades-long attempt.”
“This is all part of the salami tactics of the non-biological PM to bring fulfillment to the decades-long attempt by the RSS to assault the Constitution and Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy,” Ramesh tweeted.
In response, BJP leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan denied any plans to include ‘Manusmriti’ in the academic curriculum, accusing the Congress of creating unnecessary confusion among students.
“Yesterday, some information came to us that Manusmriti will be part of the Law Faculty course at Delhi University. I inquired and talked to the Delhi University Vice-Chancellor. He assured me that some law faculty members had proposed some changes in the jurisprudence chapter. Today, there is an Academic Council meeting and there is no endorsement of any such proposal in the authentic body of the Academic Council,” Pradhan said.
“Yesterday itself, the Vice-Chancellor rejected that proposal. We are all committed to our Constitution and our futuristic approach. The government is committed to upholding the true spirit and letter of the Constitution. There is no question of including any controversial portion of any script,” he added.
The controversy over the inclusion of ‘Manusmriti’ in the law curriculum at Delhi University highlights ongoing debates over the role of ancient texts in modern education and their compatibility with constitutional values.