Delhi University has found itself at the centre of a political and academic storm after its undergraduate admission form listed “Muslim” as a mother tongue while omitting constitutionally recognised languages like Urdu, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi and even Bengali.

The inclusion of caste and occupation-based labels such as “Mazdoor,” “Mochi,” “Kurmi,” “Dehati,” “Cham***,” and “Bihari” in the language section has further deepened the outrage.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from teachers, students, political leaders, and education experts, many of whom see it as a dangerous reflection of communal and caste bias, and a gross violation of constitutional principles.

Urdu, recognised under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, was notably missing, while “Muslim”—a religious identity, not a language—was listed in its place.

Professor Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), who first flagged the issue, termed it an example of “a deeply communal and Islamophobic mindset.”

She questioned how such a glaring error could occur in a central university unless it was deliberate.

“Over three lakh students are expected to fill out this form. This is not just a technical glitch—it’s an assault on the spirit of our multilingual, pluralistic Constitution,” she said.

Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College and an elected member of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), called it “a calculated act of communalism” and warned against what he termed “methodical madness.”

He argued that equating Urdu with a religious community was a form of erasure, undermining a rich cultural and literary legacy shared across communities.

The All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE) demanded a public apology from the university and asked whether the logic that replaced Urdu with ‘Muslim’ would soon result in ‘Hindu’ replacing Hindi.

Political parties have also weighed in. The Congress accused the university of executing a “well-orchestrated conspiracy,” while the BJP attempted to dismiss the row as a “clerical error.” Following intense social media backlash and campus protests, Delhi University issued a clarification stating the mistake had been rectified.

However, Rajya Sabha MP and RJD leader Manoj Kumar Jha rejected the university’s explanation.

“I know how much effort goes into designing these forms. This is not a typo — it is part of a disturbing trend,” he said.

Jha also linked the incident to a recent remark by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who stated that Indians who speak English would soon feel ashamed.

“In a multilingual country like India, such statements and actions reveal a desire to flatten linguistic diversity in favour of a singular cultural narrative,” Jha said.

He added, “Language in India has never belonged to any one community. The idea of linking language to religious identity is not just ahistorical — it is dangerous to our democratic ethos.”

Academics have expressed concern that the recurring appearance of such “errors” in DU’s official communications may not be accidental.

“Every few days, there’s a new notice that has no logical foundation and gets quietly withdrawn. The institution has been hollowed out. Those in charge neither understand history nor care to,” said a senior professor, adding, “We are being silenced one notice at a time.”