'Restore All 43 Papers': Delhi University History Students Protest Reduction Of Courses To 23, Allege Lack Of Transparency & Demand Academic Autonomy

Delhi University's History Department found itself at the center of a student protest on Friday, as history students voiced their discontent over the proposed reduction of courses from 43 to just 23. The students gathered in protest, arguing that the decision had limited their academic choices and particularly impacted areas such as caste, gender, tribal histories, labor, and medieval Indian history.

The students alleged that the decision-making process lacked transparency and did not involve history faculty members adequately. Former Head of the History Department, Prabhu Mohapatra, addressed the protest, stating that teachers were being denied the opportunity to teach in their areas of specialization, despite possessing relevant research expertise.

Maya John, a history professor and Academic Council member, further alleged that even the Head of the Department was not allowed to speak in Academic Council meetings. She also claimed that the expert committee examining the courses did not include history professors, adding that the developments reflected a broader pattern of ideological intervention in higher education.

The students demanded the restoration of all 43 proposed papers, an end to arbitrary course deletions, and protection of the department's academic autonomy. They also requested transparent decision-making processes that respect teachers' expertise, along with adequate classrooms, infrastructure, and academic resources to accommodate the rising student enrollment under the new four-year undergraduate program.

The students emphasized that the reduction from 43 proposed papers to 23 was not just a curricular issue but directly impacted the quality of education and students' intellectual freedom, threatening the future of historical scholarship.