The Crossbill News Desk
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh on Thursday, June 12, clarified that the controversial ancient Hindu text Manusmriti will not be included in any form in the university's curriculum.
The statement came after reports emerged that the text had been listed as a primary reading in a newly introduced course titled Dharmashastra Studies.
“We will not teach any part of Manusmriti in any form in the University of Delhi,” Singh told The Indian Express.
“This direction has been issued even earlier by the vice-chancellor’s office, and departments should adhere to it. The department should not have put it down in the first place following these directions,” he added.
The course, introduced as a four-credit core paper in the current academic session, is aimed at undergraduate students with a working knowledge of Sanskrit.
According to its original objective, it sought to explore ancient Indian society as depicted in Sanskrit texts categorized under Dharmashastra. Primary readings for the course initially included a range of ancient texts such as the Apastamba Dharmasutra, Baudhayana Dharmasutra, Vashistha Dharmasutra, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti, the Kautilya Arthashastra, and the Manusmriti. Epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and various Puranas were also part of the syllabus.
However, the inclusion of Manusmriti drew sharp criticism from faculty members and social activists, who pointed out that the text has historically been associated with promoting rigid caste hierarchies and gender discrimination. Critics argued that its inclusion in a university syllabus risked legitimizing regressive ideas.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vice Chancellor Singh confirmed that the text has now been officially removed from the course.
“Our stand remains the same. Manusmriti will not be taught in any course in DU. The university had made that clear in the past as well. The text has been removed from the Sanskrit department’s ‘Dharamshastra Studies’. In the future also, whenever it comes to our notice that the text has been suggested for studying, the administration will remove it,” he said.
The decision comes amid growing scrutiny over the content of academic curricula and the balance between studying ancient texts and addressing their controversial legacies.
The statement came after reports emerged that the text had been listed as a primary reading in a newly introduced course titled Dharmashastra Studies.
“We will not teach any part of Manusmriti in any form in the University of Delhi,” Singh told The Indian Express.
“This direction has been issued even earlier by the vice-chancellor’s office, and departments should adhere to it. The department should not have put it down in the first place following these directions,” he added.
The course, introduced as a four-credit core paper in the current academic session, is aimed at undergraduate students with a working knowledge of Sanskrit.
According to its original objective, it sought to explore ancient Indian society as depicted in Sanskrit texts categorized under Dharmashastra. Primary readings for the course initially included a range of ancient texts such as the Apastamba Dharmasutra, Baudhayana Dharmasutra, Vashistha Dharmasutra, Yajnavalkya Smriti, Narada Smriti, the Kautilya Arthashastra, and the Manusmriti. Epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and various Puranas were also part of the syllabus.
However, the inclusion of Manusmriti drew sharp criticism from faculty members and social activists, who pointed out that the text has historically been associated with promoting rigid caste hierarchies and gender discrimination. Critics argued that its inclusion in a university syllabus risked legitimizing regressive ideas.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Vice Chancellor Singh confirmed that the text has now been officially removed from the course.
“Our stand remains the same. Manusmriti will not be taught in any course in DU. The university had made that clear in the past as well. The text has been removed from the Sanskrit department’s ‘Dharamshastra Studies’. In the future also, whenever it comes to our notice that the text has been suggested for studying, the administration will remove it,” he said.
The decision comes amid growing scrutiny over the content of academic curricula and the balance between studying ancient texts and addressing their controversial legacies.
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