As many as 1,152 academicians, writers, actors and students from India and other countries on Monday called on the Delhi University to reinstate the works of Tamil Dalit writers Bama Faustina Soosairaj and Sukirtharani, and Bengali author Mahasweta Devi to its syllabus.
The university had in August dropped three texts – Devi’s short story ‘Draupadi’, Sukirtharini’s ‘My Body’ and Soosairaj’s ‘Sangati’ – from its BA (Honours) English course. The decision drew heavy criticism.
Officials from the university said that the three texts allegedly showed the Indian Army in a bad light and had violent sexual content. In a press note on August 26, the university said that academic courses should comprise of materials that don’t hurt sentiments.
On Monday, a petition was submitted to the Delhi University Vice Chancellor PC Joshi, demanding that the institution reconsider its decision to remove the works from its syllabus.
The signatories of the petition…