Nandini Sundar’s book opposed in DU

SUNDAR SAID THE ISSUE ISN’T ABOUT HER OR THE BOOK BUT ABOUT THE DEPT’S FREEDOM TO DECIDE THE SYLLABUS

Delhi University’s academic council has sent back a proposal to include some chapters from sociology professor Nandini Sundar’s book in the MA Sociology course after opposition from a section of members.

DU’s sociology department had recommended inclusion of some chapters from her book titled The Burning Forest: India’s War in Bastar in the MA Sociology paper called Political Sociology.

RN Dubey, an AC member who belongs to the National Democratic Teachers’ Front, said teachers raised objections to the inclusion of chapters from Sundar’s book after which it was decided to send back the recommendation to the department for reconsideration.

“The title of the book says India’s war in Bastar. What does this convey? I have read the reviews of the book and I think it should not be in the syllabus,” he said.

Sundar said the issue isn’t about her or the book but about the department’s freedom to decide what should be in the syllabus.

“It is an absurd decision as some members who have raised the objection have reportedly said they have not even read my book. The chapters, in question, are an introduction to Bastar and the problems in the area,” she said.