Delhi University Course Proposal: Reports indicate that the Delhi University (DU) Standing Committee, following objections raised at a meeting on Monday, has returned the proposed courses and revised syllabi submitted by the Economics and History departments.
According to committee members, additional elective courses were introduced for the second semester of the two-year postgraduate program in Economics, including Course 4, titled "Economics and Gender." Reports suggest that the Economics of Gender course included a unit on "Crime and Gender," which examined the economic theories of intimate partner violence, domestic and workplace violence, and the relationship between women's socio-economic and political representation and crimes against women.
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Are gender-related topics appropriate in the Economics syllabus?
Members allegedly argued that these topics were not relevant to economics, did not align with the course title "Economics and Gender," and were "ideologically driven." It was also pointed out that women's participation in the workforce in India is among the lowest globally, and that social norms, domestic violence, and safety concerns are major factors contributing to their low workforce participation. Due to a lack of consensus on this issue, the course was reportedly sent back for revision.
Is DU's History syllabus too global?
Meanwhile, when the History Department presented its Discipline-Specific Core (DSC) and Discipline-Specific Elective (DSE) courses for the second semester, members of the National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF) reportedly objected, stating that the syllabus was skewed towards global history.
Should society be excluded from economic history?
In the case of DSC 4, titled "Themes in Ancient Indian Economy and Society," objections were reportedly raised regarding the inclusion of the word "society" in the title. Members argued that since all three DSCs address the economic history of India in the ancient, medieval, and modern periods, the word "society" was incongruous and readings related to social aspects should be removed.
However, one member was of the view that "economy and society" are inseparable, especially in historical analysis, and that both have a lasting and mutually constructive influence on each other.
Are Key historical Readings Being wrongly removed?
Several readings were reportedly asked to be removed, including Shireen Moosvi's 'Work and Gender in Mughal India' from 'People, Taxation, and Trade in Mughal India,' which was allegedly removed from DSC 5. Indrani Chatterjee and Richard M. Eaton's 'Slavery in South Asian History' was also reportedly removed from DSC 4. Since it was felt that the syllabus had been prepared in haste, the Standing Committee requested the head of the department to reconsider the syllabus and prepare it with appropriate readings.
DU is currently preparing the syllabus for the second semester of its postgraduate programs as part of a major restructuring under the one-year postgraduate model introduced by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Apparently, the Standing Committee does not have the final say on syllabus changes. Once suggestions are made, the syllabus goes back to the respective departments for revision, and the revised syllabus is then presented to the Academic and Executive Councils.