DU history book row hots up

The controversy over the BA IInd Year concurrent course in History is heating up following protests against alleged objectionable reference, reports Anuradha Mukherjee.

The controversy over the BA (Honours) Second Year concurrent course in History is heating up. Following some alleged remarks by a former BJP MP, activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), youth wing of the BJP, National Democratic Teachers’ Front (NDTF), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and some other groups demonstrated near the Arts Faculty on Tuesday.

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The activists said they were protesting against alleged objectionable references to Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman in a chapter of the recommended reading for second year student. The contentious essay is ‘Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation’ by A K Ramanujan.

“The head of the history department assured us that he will convene a meeting of teachers and find a solution. We also submitted a memorandum with Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental, who has also assured us of speedy redressal,” said Vikas Dahiya of the ABVP.

DU history department head SZH Jafri confirmed receiving the memorandum. “In fact, Ramanujan was honoured even by the NDA government. He is one of the best known historians and Sanskritists. He has done a lot of work on folklore, but I cannot comment on his sources since it is not my area of expertise,” said Jafri.