Delhi University’s political science department on Thursday rejected a panel’s recommendation to drop three books by academic Kancha Ilaiah from the MA syllabus.
The books are titled Why I am not a Hindu, Post-Hindu India and God as a Political Philosopher: Buddha’s Challenge to Brahminism.
The standing committee on academic affairs --- headed by pro-vice-chancellor J.M. Khurana --- had argued the books lacked empirical data and had used the word “Dalit”, which has been banned from official or media use by a few courts.
“There was no academic reason for dropping the books. The word ‘Dalit’ has been coined by the Dalits through a movement. This can be used in academic text. Secondly, Ilaiah’s books reflected the philosophy and culture of the backward classes and Dalits,” said N. Sukumar, a professor.
The political science department’s unanimous resolution will be sent to the standing committee again, then to the academic council, and perhaps finally to the executive council.
Teachers from the BJP-backed National Democratic Teachers Front wanted the books dropped. Several teachers’ and students’ groups, including Ambedkarite scholars, had opposed the move as an attack on Shudras and Dalits. Rahul Gandhi too had opposed the move.
Executive council member Rajesh Jha said several teacher representatives in the council would resist any attempt to drop the books.