Delhi University Drops Manusmriti, Baburnama from History Syllabus:

Delhi University (DU) has officially withdrawn its proposal to include Manusmriti and Baburnama in its undergraduate history syllabus following strong opposition from faculty members. Confirming the decision, DU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh stated that there are no plans to introduce these texts, now or in the future.

DU Rejects Manusmriti and Baburnama in Curriculum

Prof. Yogesh Singh clarified:
"There is no consideration of including subjects like Manusmriti or Baburnama in DU. We reject such ideas entirely."

His key arguments against these texts:
Manusmriti – Promotes caste-based discrimination, which goes against India's Constitution and progressive values.
Baburnama – The autobiography of Mughal ruler Babur, which he called an account of a tyrant, irrelevant to modern India.

"Baburnama glorifies an invader responsible for widespread destruction in India. There is no need to teach such content as it does not contribute to the present or future of our country," the Vice Chancellor stated.

Academic Vision Under NEP 2020

Prof. Singh emphasized that under the New Education Policy (NEP 2020), DU is focused on:
Developing courses based on Indian knowledge systems and traditions
Prioritizing study materials that benefit society and the economy
Aligning with the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047’

“DU is committed to preserving India’s heritage while ensuring our education system contributes to national development,” he added.

Divided Opinions Among Faculty Members

While some professors welcomed the decision, others defended the proposal, arguing that:
Studying historical texts through primary sources is crucial for academic analysis.
Excluding them could limit students’ understanding of history in its entirety.

However, this is not the first time Manusmriti faced opposition at DU. A similar proposal to introduce it in the law syllabus last year was also scrapped following faculty protests.

Delhi University’s decision to exclude Manusmriti and Baburnama reflects an ongoing debate on how history should be taught in modern India. While some argue for a critical academic approach, others believe that certain texts contradict constitutional values and should not be part of the curriculum.