Hindu nationalism, tribal identity, Pakistan: What DU doesn’t want you to study anymore

Delhi University (DU) is reportedly set to drop several critical texts from its postgraduate Political Science and History programmes. The proposed removals include works by prominent scholars that explore themes of religious nationalism, identity politics, and the sociopolitical underpinnings of South Asian history, many of which have previously sparked public and institutional contention.

Jaffrelot, Baviskar among key authors targeted

According to media reports, Hindu Nationalism: A Reader by noted French political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot is among the texts slated for removal. The book, currently listed as suggested reading in DU’s MA Political Science curriculum, offers a comprehensive analysis of Hindu nationalism from colonial times to contemporary India. Its exploration of issues such as secularism, communal relations, and diaspora politics has drawn criticism from review panelists who reportedly view it as ideologically sensitive.Also under review is In the Belly of the River by sociologist Amita Baviskar, which has been part of the Public Policy in South Asia course. The book delves into the Narmada Bachao Andolan and interrogates the “Hinduisation” of tribal identities, subjects some faculty members say are being red-flagged for their perceived alignment with anti-majoritarian narratives.Meanwhile, Routine Violence by historian Gyanendra Pandey has already been dropped from the syllabus.

The text critically engages with post-Independence political discourse, examining how dominant Hindu-centric ideologies sidelined minority perspectives. Pandey's critique of figures like VD Savarkar and MS Golwalkar, alongside a reassessment of Gandhi’s rural idealism, has reportedly contributed to its exclusion.

Controversial cuts extend to History curriculum

The Political Science department is not the only one witnessing academic realignment. In the MA History programme, several foundational readings are now under scrutiny. Phillip Wagoner’s essay Sultan Among Hindu Kings, which examines syncretic court practices at Vijayanagara, and Richard Eaton’s The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier, which interprets Islam’s spread in Bengal as a product of socio-economic transformation rather than military coercion, are both facing potential elimination.Critics argue that such removals risk eroding the analytical complexity of historical education and silencing scholarly interpretations that deviate from majoritarian narratives.

Political undercurrents and post-Pahalgam revisions

The latest proposals follow a series of syllabus cuts approved by DU in late June, including entire papers from the PG Political Science programme such as Pakistan and the World, China’s Role in the Contemporary World, Islam and International Relations, and Religious Nationalism and Political Violence.Sources within the university allege that these changes were catalyzed by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of Hindu tourists. Following the incident, faculty members were reportedly directed to reconsider content that may be construed as “sympathetic” to Pakistan or China. The resulting revisions are seen by many as aligning with both national security sentiments and prevailing political ideologies.

Institutional process and ideological overtones

While the Standing Committee of DU is responsible for proposing syllabus revisions, final decisions rest with the Academic and Executive Councils. However, growing concerns remain within the academic community that the restructuring is less about pedagogy and more about ideological conformity. Observers suggest the overhaul is consistent with the broader contours of the National Education Policy (NEP), which has been critiqued for fostering cultural nationalism under the guise of curricular decolonisation.