Congress president Rahul Gandhi has, through a letter, expressed solidarity with academic-writer Kancha Ilaiah against Delhi University’s recommendation to remove the author’s books from its political science curriculum.
In keeping with his recent attacks on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Gandhi blamed the ultra-right organisation for the university’s move and described it as “majoritarian”.
In a letter addressed to Prof. Ilaiah dated October 26, which he received on Tuesday, Mr. Gandhi said RSS’ fascism was apparent in the recommendation.
Addressing him as ‘Prof Kanch Ilaiah Shepherd Ji -- the name assumed by Prof. Ilaiah recently in defiance of his detractors --, Mr. Gandhi called the decision an aggressive move to propagate unilateral view of Hinduism, and hence was deplorable.
“The fact is, your books have been a part of the university’s syllabus for over a decade, without any questions being raised on their impact on the minds of the students. Now, the RSS, which cannot boast of any intellectual or academic capital, is seeking to destroy academic integrity by silencing diverse voices,” Mr. Gandhi wrote, adding that it was part of their larger design to keep the Shudras and Dalits disempowered.
‘Read divergent views’
He rounded off expressing hope that the Academic Council rejects the move, and students would be able to read divergent views and form their own opinions instead of towing the line of RSS.
The Delhi University’s Standing Committee on Academic Matters recently proposed dropping three of Prof. Ilaiah’s books from MA (political science) reading list citing controversial content.
The titles recommended for removal are Why I am not a Hindu , Post-Hindu India and God as Political Philosopher: Buddha’s Challenge to Brahminism .
Prof. Ilaiah expressed happiness over the support that he received by a national party, and said that by taking such a stand, Mr. Gandhi has proven his commitment to pluralistic process of teaching and learning.
