The government has asked all central universities to provide details about courses prescribing books on caste, Brahmanism, Dalit movements, critiques of Hinduism, and gender, along with the number of students pursuing these programmes.
The ministry of education sent a letter on September 27 to about 50 central universities following a communication received from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO wrote to the MoE on a post made by an X handle — The Story Teller — on September 26.
Several academics have strongly criticised the government, arguing that universities rightfully teach caste, a social reality.
“THIS IS WHAT STUDENTS ARE BEING TAUGHT AT OUR UNIVERSITIES. From patriarchy to Caste Annihilation to Debrahmanising the history to Curse of Manu, we are feeding young minds with a poison which our leftist cabal uses as apprenticeship for grooming their future rank and file,” The Story Teller’s post had said.
The X handle referred to courses at JNU, the Central University of Punjab, Delhi University (DU), and Asutosh College under Calcutta University and books prescribed for reading under these programmes.
These books include Annihilation of Caste, Who Were the Shudras, The Untouchables, Against the Madness of Manu by B.R. Ambedkar, Dalits and the Democratic Revolution: Dr Ambedkar and the Dalit Movement in Colonial India by Gail Omvedt, Sudras in Ancient India: A Social History of the Order Down to Circa AD 600 by R.S. Sharma, Debrahmanising History by B.R. Mani, Everyday Lives, Everyday Histories: Beyond the King and Brahmanas of Ancient India by Uma Chakravarti, Collected Writings by E.V. Periyar, Gulamgiri by Jotirao Phule, Why I am not a Hindu by Kancha Ilaiah and Puranic material concerning Mahishasura.
The letter issued by the MoE said: “I am directed to refer to a communication received from the Prime Minister’s Office regarding a recent tweet posted on the social media platform X (earlier Twitter)…”
Referring to The Story Teller’s post, the letter added: “All the Central Universities are requested to furnish comments on the above. Further, enrolment in the courses mentioned in the tweet may also be apprised to the Ministry. This may be treated as ‘URGENT’ and the required comments/information may be furnished to the Ministry at the earliest.”
N. Sukumar, professor of political science at Delhi University, said caste was a social reality in India and the syllabus of social science subjects in universities had rightfully included books on caste by leading social thinkers and researchers.
“If the PMO has written to the central universities, which are autonomous institutions, about these readings, it is not a good sign in the context of democratising teaching-learning activities. Knowledge needs to be obtained from multiple dimensions. If caste cannot be debated in courses of sociology, political science, history, women studies, etc, where will it be studied?” Sukumar said.
He alleged the ruling political establishment uses caste for electoral gains but does not want intellectual engagement to find a solution.
“Caste is a fundamental social reality. If you ignore that, you cannot understand Indian society properly. That is why caste has been included in courses. It needs to be taught,” Sukumar said.
Prof. Avatthi Ramaiah, former dean, Equal Opportunity Centre, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, who specialises in caste, social exclusion and inclusive policy, defended the rights of educational institutions to teach these materials.
“The government letter to the central universities regarding courses on caste in India, particularly on the perspectives of Dr Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule, Periyar and Karl Marx, seems to reflect the government’s desperation to stop today’s youths, students and research scholars from indulging in critical thinking. The perspectives of these scholars turned leaders are very crucial to transform the people of India, who continue to remain divided on the basis of their religious, caste, sub-caste and ethnic affiliations, into citizens of India,” Ramaiah said.
“How to realise this transformation? According to the Preamble to the Constitution, fraternity or oneness among the heterogeneous population can be realised only by ensuring every citizen justice, liberty and equality. Fraternity cannot be realised by denying these noble ideas,” Ramaiah added.
“...The government should simultaneously promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood and develop a scientific temper among all citizens as declared in Article 51 a(e) and 51 a(h).
“Unfortunately, the government has completely ignored this constitutional obligation. It is instead not giving due recognition and support to those few individuals engaged in promoting a scientific temper...,” Ramaiah said.
A government official said the PMO had acted on public feedback.
“The government has asked for information. There is nothing wrong with that. This is not to suggest that the universities carry out any review of the syllabus and reading materials. The central universities remain autonomous institutions and whatever they decide, they will teach,” the official said.