Delhi University drops Manusmriti from Sanskrit syllabus; V-C says ‘won't be taught in any course'

Manusmriti was previously listed in a four-credit Sanskrit course titled ‘Dharmashastra Studies’, part of the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Delhi University (DU) on Thursday officially confirmed that Manusmriti will not be taught in any course offered by its School of Open Learning or other departments. This announcement came after the ancient Hindu scripture was included as part of a new undergraduate Sanskrit course, leading to backlash from students and teachers.

“Our stand remains the same. Manusmriti will not be taught in any course in DU. The university had made that clear in the past as well. The text has been removed from the Sanskrit department’s ‘Dharamshastra Studies’. In the future also, whenever it comes to our notice that the text has been suggested for studying, the administration will remove it,” Delhi University (DU) vice chancellor Yogesh Singh was quoted by Hindustah Times.

The university also posted an official statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “University of Delhi will not teach Manusmriti in any course. The ‘Dharmashastra Studies’ paper, where it was listed as recommended reading, has been deleted.”

Manusmriti was previously listed in a four-credit Sanskrit course titled ‘Dharmashastra Studies’, part of the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The same course also included other ancient Indian texts like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, and Arthashastra.

Earlier in March, the vice chancellor had already clarified that Manusmriti would not be used as reading material in any DU curriculum. That clarification came after the university’s history department approved its inclusion in a History (Honours) syllabus during a meeting on February 19.

This isn’t the first time the text has caused controversy at DU. In July 2023, a proposal to include Manusmriti in the undergraduate History syllabus was dropped after facing stiff resistance. Back then, university officials said they were committed to avoiding content that could trigger social divisions or unrest, according to a report by News18.