Gandhi paper reinstated in DU’s political science department for semester 4.

Delhi University Reinstates “Gandhi and the Contemporary World” Paper in Revised Syllabus

Delhi University’s Political Science department has reinstated the “Gandhi and the Contemporary World” paper in the revised syllabus of semester IV, post deliberations at the Academic Council (AC) meeting which took place on May 26, The Indian Express has learnt.

Move to Semester VII Protested

This move comes after several AC members protested against the department’s suggestion to move the paper on Gandhi, which was earlier taught as a generic elective under semester IV for students pursuing BA (Honours) Political Science, to semester VII under the revised syllabus.

Change in Chronology

The chronology earlier suggested by the department was that papers on Savarkar, Ambedkar and Gandhi be taught in semesters V, VI, VII respectively. It has now changed to Gandhi and Ambedkar to be taught in semesters IV and V and Savarkar to be taught in the sixth semester.

Members Demand Placement in Fourth Semester

AC member Alok Ranjan Pandey said: “Our demand was based on the exit mode that most students might choose after the sixth semester and might not have the opportunity to study Gandhi if it is placed in the seventh semester. After a lot of deliberation, we reached a conclusion in the Academic Council to reinstate the paper on Gandhi in the fourth semester. The same has also been approved by the Executive Council (EC).”

Curriculum Review based on National Education Policy

The suggestion to move the paper to semester VII was part of the curriculum review being undertaken by the department based on the National Education Policy.

Final Approval

The final revised syllabus for semesters IV, V and VI was approved by the AC, the apex decision-making body on academic matters, on May 26 and ratified by the EC on June 9. The EC meeting minutes state the re-arrangements in DSE papers to be offered in BA (Hons)/BA (Prog), with the paper on Gandhi placed in Semester-IV, the paper on Ambedkar in Semester-V, and the paper on Savarkar in Semester-VI.

A professor from the Political Science department, on condition of anonymity, said: “The department had earlier removed the paper on Gandhi from semester IV and replaced it with ‘Citizenship in a Globalising World’ as part of the pool of discipline-specific electives, and had said Gandhi would be reintroduced in semester VII. ‘Understanding Savarkar’ was listed as part of the fifth semester followed by the paper on Ambedkar in semester VI… Many members in the AC had debated on this chronology and, hence, the matter came back to the department’s committee of courses, which decided to reinstate the paper on Gandhi in the fourth semester.”

Summary:

• Delhi University’s Political Science department reinstates “Gandhi and the Contemporary World” paper in revised syllabus of semester IV.
• AC members protested against the suggestion to move the paper to semester VII.
• Change in chronology places Gandhi and Ambedkar in semesters IV and V, and Savarkar in the sixth semester.
• Members demand placement of Gandhi paper in fourth semester based on exit mode of students.
• Syllabus revision based on National Education Policy.