By Faiyaz Ahmad Wajeeh
New Delhi: The University of Delhi is at the centre of controversy over its undergraduate admission form, which featured inappropriate caste-related and other entries like Cham***, Mazdoor, Dehati, Mochi, Kurmi, Muslim and Bihari in the mother tongue section instead of languages like Urdu, Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi.
The removal of Urdu and the inclusion of ‘Muslim’ as a language in the form gained traction on social media. Alongside Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi, Bengali was also allegedly absent from the language section.
The issue was initially brought to light by Professor Abha Dev Habib, secretary of the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), who vehemently criticised the situation and called it an example of islamophobic and communal mindset.
The All India Forum for Right to Education (AIFRTE) also asked whether one ought to expect the term ‘Hindu’ to replace Hindi as a language soon. Labeling it an ignorant and communal move, AIFRTE has requested a public apology from the university.
The Congress described it as a well-orchestrated conspiracy while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called it a ‘human error’.
After widespread backlash and protests, the university clarified its position saying that it was a clerical error that was promptly corrected.
Speaking to The Wire, professor Abu Bakar Abbad, the Head of the Urdu Department at the university, reiterated the university’s explanation regarding the error. He said, “In addition to Urdu, incorrect entries were made in one or two other languages as well, and this has now been rectified.”
Abbad refrained from commenting any further on the matter. However, several other teachers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, suggested that this was, in fact, a well thought-out ‘experiment’ that could not be executed properly.
Had the matter not become public, the intentions of those who are unnecessarily concerned about appeasing the government would have been realised.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
