Another victory for Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti
DU removes blasphemous essay on Ramayana from history textbook
By Pramod Kumar
As a major victory for the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti, the Delhi University on October 10 withdrew the blasphemous essay on Ramayana from history textbook. The essay written by AK Ramanujan contained derogatory, defamatory and offensive language against Hindu gods and goddesses. The removed chapter will be replaced by two articles, one by Romila Thapar and the other by RS Singh.
Earlier on October 9, the Delhi University Academic Council did away with the blasphemous essay. After that the University formally informed the Supreme Court on October 10 that the essay has been withdrawn. The essay ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation,’ was part of the syllabus for BA (Hons) History students.
Following a civil suit, filed by noted educationist and national convenor of Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti Shri Dina Nath Batra and others, the Supreme Court had in July last year directed the Delhi University to constitute an expert committee to look into the matter and submit its report before the Academic Council for a decision. The expert committee of four members comprised historians of repute whose names have not been made public. While three of them had unanimously upheld the academic merit of the essay, one raised an objection on the ground that it was unsuitable for under-graduate students.
The Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti expressed its satisfaction over the decision of the Academic Council and thanked the members of the Academic Council, the Vice Chancellor and the History Department of the University for the decision in the matter. “It was a conspiracy hatched on the part of Christian Missionaries and their fellow travellers to demean our gods and goddesses. It has been thrashed. We have decided to honour all those who raised their voice against the insult of our gods and goddesses in the University itself on October 18. All these people will be mobilised so that they could keep a close watch over the University syllabus,” said Shri Dina Nath Batra while talking to Organiser.
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