In a dramatic protest, Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ronak Khatri, affiliated with the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), responded by smearing cow dung on the walls of the principal’s office.
Khatri condemned the act as a “troubling endorsement of pseudoscience within an academic institution”.
The incident is the latest in a series of ideological flashpoints at Delhi University, where many students and faculty allege the administration is increasingly aligning with right-wing interests, fuelling a growing perception of bias.
From controversial events to contentious appointments and syllabus changes, critics say the university, once known for its diverse views, is being used to push a right-wing narrative.
“We are now seeing principals and teachers who are clearly aligned with a specific ideology. While DUSU is focused on student welfare, we cannot ignore actions like smearing cow dung on academic spaces—it’s unacceptable,” the DUSU president told ThePrint.
Faculty members and students say that in recent years, Delhi University has seen a noticeable rise in events featuring figures affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
They say they have been raising concerns about what they call the “saffronisation” of the campus, pointing to recent events and the selection of speakers as signs of a shifting ideological direction.
Faculty members note that ministers and MPs of the party in power have long been part of Delhi University events. “Even earlier, they were invited, but only for significant occasions,” said Ashwini Shankar, associate professor of history at Delhi University.
“Now, it’s become routine. It is not limited to MPs and ministers; now, RSS members are frequently seen at orientations and refresher programmes. Just this week, I saw representatives from the RSS-affiliated Sanskrit Bharati at the Sanskrit department’s annual festival,” added Shankar.
Faculty members cite several other recent events that reflect the change.
On 2 April, the School of Journalism held a mandatory event on ‘One Nation, One Election’, featuring BJP National General Secretary Sunil Bansal as the chief guest, which sparked student protests.
More recently, on 30 April, the university organised a ‘Run for One Nation, One Election’ event, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the chief guest. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood also attended the programme.
Earlier, in January, Delhi University co-hosted a discussion on journalist Ashok Shrivastav’s book Modi vs Khan Market Gang at the Vice Regal Lodge, the university’s administrative headquarters.
The event featured BJP national Joint General Secretary (Organisation) Shiv Prakash and former BJP MP Jyoti Mirdha. Faculty critics called it the “politicisation” of the university’s highest office.
On 3 April, Delhi University issued a circular urging department heads and principals to encourage participation in ‘Run for a Girl Child’, an event organised by Rashtriya Sewa Bharati, the social wing of the RSS, which drew sharp criticism from many faculty members.
Rajesh Jha, a faculty member at the university, criticised the growing ideological bias at Delhi University.
“The university is increasingly hosting events with a specific ideological agenda, threatening its tradition of diversity and openness. Academic spaces should foster inclusive dialogue, not become ideological echo chambers. From RSS-sponsored runs to the book launches, everything has an ideological angle,” he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Pankaj Garg, president of the Indian National Teachers’ Congress (affiliated with the Congress) and a senior faculty member, said he had witnessed Delhi University’s evolution since the 1980s as a student.
“Inviting ministers or MPs to the university can still be justified. But inviting BJP office-bearers and RSS leaders is a clear case of saffronisation of higher education. It promotes a singular ideological narrative to students. And this isn’t unique to DU; it’s part of a broader pattern unfolding across institutions under the current regime,” he said.
However, A.K. Bhagi, president of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) and a member of the right-leaning National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF), dismissed allegations of ideological imposition on campus, calling the criticism “selective outrage”.
“There are no restrictions on who can attend or speak at DU events. The campus is open to all. In 2013, people objected when Prime Minister Modi was invited to SRCC. They had issues then, and they have issues now,” Bhagi told ThePrint.
Citing a past instance to support his claim, Bhagi said, “In 2014, we invited senior RSS leader Suresh Joshi on behalf of NDTF, but the university cancelled our venue booking, preventing his visit. We remember that day also. No one raised the issue then.”
Old-timers recall how, during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure, Delhi University regularly hosted senior political figures for major events.
In February 2013, then education minister Kapil Sibal inaugurated the university’s annual cultural festival. In November 2012, Sibal delivered the inaugural address at a multidisciplinary conference hosted by Gargi College.
In 2010, CPI(M) MP Sitaram Yechury joined Delhi University teachers in their protest against the introduction of the semester system, and even met with the then President to voice their concerns.
In 2016, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor addressed the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) Youth Conference. And in 2017, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram attended the annual economics festival at Sri Venkateswara College.
Most recently, in May 2023, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made an informal visit to Delhi University’s PG Men’s Hostel, where he had lunch and interacted with several students.
However, the university later issued a notice to Gandhi, calling his visit “sudden and unannounced” and instructing him to “cease and desist” from such visits, citing safety concerns.
Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh did not respond to calls, emails and messages sent for a comment. This report will be updated if and when his office responds.
Delhi University Registrar Vikas Gupta firmly denied allegations that the university is promoting a specific political or ideological agenda through its recent activities.
Responding to criticism regarding a university circular endorsing a women’s empowerment event organised by Sewa Bharti, he told ThePrint, “This initiative was solely intended for the empowerment and upliftment of women.”
“We issued the circular because we support the cause of women’s empowerment, not because of the organising body’s affiliations. There is absolutely no agenda to promote any ideology through this event or in any way at the university campus,” he added.
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Controversial events
Faculty members and students cite other events which they say point to what they describe as the “saffronisation” of the university through events featuring figures affiliated with the RSS and BJP.
For instance, on 19 June 2023, the university organised a book launch event along with Kitabwale, where a member of the BJP’s parliamentary board, Satya Narayan Jatiya, was invited as the chief guest.
Similarly, on 26 November last year, the university’s sports complex hosted the launch of a book by Mukul Kanitkar, a member of the RSS outreach team. The event was attended by Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS chief executive, as well as the vice-chancellor of Delhi University.
Later in December 2023, the university invited RSS secretary Bharat Bhushan as the special guest to inaugurate the Centre for Hindu Studies, a move that triggered protests among students.
Last month, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat launched a book The Hindu Manifesto and the Delhi University vice chancellor was in attendance during the event. But the event did not take place on the university premises.
Abha Dev Habib, Associate Professor at Miranda House and a member of the Left-aligned Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), criticised the increasing presence of RSS-affiliated events on campus.
“Just look at what’s happening at DU—seats reserved and marked with labels like ‘pracharak’’. It’s disgraceful,” she told ThePrint.
“We’re not assembling mobile phones that can be discarded if one batch fails. We are shaping the future leaders of this country. This university carries a deep responsibility to its students and the nation. And it must not compromise that by promoting a singular ideology,” she added.
Responding to allegations of “saffronisation”, the vice chancellor had told news agency PTI in an April 2024 interview, “First, I’d like to understand what saffronisation means. If doing something for the country is saffronisation, then we’re up for it. But we won’t tolerate any anti-India campaign in any form. This is our nation, and we must build it. Differences in thought are fine, but we won’t tolerate indiscipline.”
VIDEO | “First of all, I would like to understand the meaning of saffronisation. If doing anything for the country is saffronisation, then we are up for it. But we will not tolerate any anti-India campaign in whichever form. This is a country of one particular people; this is our… pic.twitter.com/vXApOrlpL3
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 15, 2024
A senior Delhi University professor, speaking to ThePrint on the condition of anonymity, claimed that navigating the university’s administrative system has increasingly become difficult for those not aligned with right-wing ideology.
“Most recently, Professor Apoorvanand was denied permission to attend an academic event in New York. The university even demanded the full text of his talk in advance. That’s unheard of in DU’s history.”
Professor Apoorvanand Jha, a senior faculty member in Delhi University’s Hindi department and a well-known critic of the establishment, said the administration had indeed denied him permission to attend a scholarly event at The New School, New York, scheduled for 23 April.
According to him, the university insisted he submit the full script of his lecture beforehand, a condition he refused to comply with. “This is nothing short of censorship,” he said.
A group of faculty members, including elected representatives from the university’s statutory bodies, sent a letter to the vice chancellor on 17 April, strongly condemning the move. They called it a direct attack on academic freedom and a troubling sign of growing political interference in university affairs.
In their letter protesting the denial of permission to Professor Apoorvanand, faculty members called on the vice chancellor to protect the university’s autonomy and resist political interference.
“As Vice Chancellor, it is your duty to protect the university from political encroachment and uphold its constitutional mandate,” the letter read.
“We urge you to take decisive action to prevent Delhi University from becoming a victim of undemocratic overreach. The university must remain a stronghold of independent learning.”
In March, Apoorvanand alleged that despite being the seniormost professor, the university bypassed him and appointed someone else as the head of the Hindi department.
When contacted, he suggested that the lack of an official explanation implied that his exclusion was due to “ideological differences”.
“This is unacceptable. Every faculty member should be allowed to perform their duties without bias. Seniority is not just a formality; it’s a safeguard against discrimination and ensures fairness in academia,” Habib said.
Another senior faculty member from the university’s Political Science department noted that there had been previous instances where seniority was overlooked.
“In 2021, before Singh took office, two cases were reported where seniority was bypassed in the appointment of department heads: one in Political Science and another in Chemistry. Both cases were eventually taken to the Delhi High Court,” the faculty member said, requesting anonymity.
However, Registrar Gupta told ThePrint, “Under Ordinance 23 of the university, the vice chancellor has the authority to appoint any qualified faculty member as the Head of a Department.”
Unease among students
Signs of change are visible across Delhi University, students say.
On 22 January last year, Delhi University’s Arts Faculty was decked out in saffron decorations to mark the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Mandir. Diyas were arranged to spell out “Hindu Rashtra” and a large “Jai Shree Ram” banner greeted students at the entrance.
The event, organised by the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), was criticised by several students and teachers for promoting a singular religious identity within a secular educational space.
An article published by an independent student newspaper, DU Beat, on 1 February 2024, described the celebration as an act of “saffronisation”.
“It was unsettling and frankly embarrassing that the university allowed such a display. If this isn’t saffronisation, what is?” asked a final-year History student from Miranda House, who requested anonymity.
And this wasn’t an isolated incident. Over the past two years, Delhi University and its affiliated colleges have witnessed multiple controversies.
One notable episode occurred in March 2023 at Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW), where the campus walls were painted saffron and the college logo was altered to match. The move drew sharp criticism from both staff and students, who denounced it as “blatant political messaging”.
Last April, a student protest broke out when the prominent Kirorimal College on North Campus hosted an RSS-organised event to celebrate the Hindu New Year.
Abhigyan, state president of the left-leaning All India Students’ Association (AISA), argued that recent events across Delhi University reflect a broader, coordinated pattern rather than isolated incidents.
According to him, there’s an ongoing effort among colleges to demonstrate loyalty to the ruling establishment. “It’s like a competition to align with the regime,” he said.
He cited a series of developments: Hansraj College allocating land for a cow shelter in 2022, Indraprastha College painting its campus walls saffron in 2023, and most recently, Lakshmibai College applying cow dung to classroom walls.
“These aren’t random decisions. They’re part of a consistent ideological agenda,” he added.
Even students who aren’t affiliated with any political group are showing signs of discomfort.
“Every now and then, we see posters, either in colleges or online, announcing that someone from the BJP or RSS is coming to speak at the university. It’s clearly become a pattern,” said a Political Science student from Ramjas College, requesting anonymity.
“Universities are supposed to be neutral spaces, free from political influence. But here, it feels like the complete opposite,” the student added. “Instead of focusing on improving DU’s global standing and aiming for a spot among the top 100 universities, what are we really prioritising?”
However, not all students shared this critical view.
Harsh Attri, national media convenor of ABVP and a postgraduate student in Buddhist Studies, defended the presence of ideologically driven discussions on campus.
“Talks on topics like ‘One Nation, One Election’ are essential to educate students on key national issues,” he said.
Attri also criticised what he called a “double standard”, pointing to instances where students and faculty freely protested government policies but objected to discussions aligned with the ruling party’s agenda.
“When others organise events to question parliamentary laws, it’s seen as democratic,” he argued. “But when we initiate conversations around nation-building themes, it’s labelled as propaganda. That hypocrisy needs to be called out.”
The contrasting views reflect a deepening ideological divide on campus, one that’s reshaping not just Delhi University’s public image but also its internal academic and cultural environment.
Eroding Institutional Autonomy
While some faculty members argue that these alleged changes began before the current administration took office, others believe they have intensified since Singh’s appointment as the 23rd vice chancellor of Delhi University in September 2021. Singh is affiliated with the Bharatiya Shikshan Mandal, a teachers’ group supported by the RSS.
During Singh’s tenure as V-C, the central government took a historic step by approving a long-pending proposal to revise the Delhi University Statutes, paving the way for the possibility of a second term for the vice chancellor.
The Delhi University executive council passed this resolution to make this amendment in 2014, when Dinesh Singh was the vice chancellor. However, it was pending approval.
Previously, the Delhi University Act explicitly barred the re-appointment of a vice chancellor.
However, a gazette notification dated 17 October 2023, by the Department of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education, announced a key change to the statute, which now stipulates that a vice chancellor may serve a five-year term and be considered for re-appointment for an additional term.
“Delhi University has been evolving for nearly a decade, but there was always a clear boundary between the administration and the political regime. A respectful distance was maintained to protect the university’s autonomy,” said Habib, a member of the Left-aligned DTF.
“That pretense of independence, however, no longer exists. The administration now openly aligns itself with political influence.”
However, according to a former Delhi University vice chancellor, universities have long been used by political forces to advance their ideologies.
“This has happened under previous administrations, where many decisions reflected left-leaning or centrist approaches. Now, with the current government in power and the vice chancellor appointed by them, it’s inevitable that the administration will align with their ideology,” the former vice chancellor told ThePrint, requesting anonymity.
New centres, courses; concerns over teacher training programme
The university’s academic choices also reflect the ideological bias.
Under the current administration, the university formally established an independent Centre for Hindu Studies in 2023, which offered a Master’s degree. The university is also planning to introduce a Ph.D programme at the centre.
The course offers an in-depth study of Hindu philosophy, culture and ethics, and provides students with a comprehensive understanding of Hindu thought and its contemporary applications.
The syllabus explores the concept of “Hindu” and the idea of oneness across traditions, ethical frameworks like Dharma and Karma, rebirth and liberation (moksha), and knowledge acquisition methods (Pramāṇa).
It also covers traditional debate methods (Vāda-Paramparā), the application of Western theories to Indian texts, and the cultural significance of the Ramayana in Indian literature and society.
Tanvir Aeijaz, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ramjas College, underscored the vital role of academic autonomy in the organic evolution of any discipline.
“Subjects like political science evolve through a scientific and secular process, shaped by continuous research and critical discourse,” he said.
“Each discipline has its own internal logic and methodology. When external non-academic ideologies, such as religious instructions, are imposed, that natural progression is ruptured, and the free flow of knowledge is compromised. The real damage lies in undermining the subject’s integrity. Academic autonomy is being eroded, and with it, the very process of knowledge dissemination.”
Maya John, an assistant professor at Jesus and Mary College and a member of the university’s Academic Council, expressed concern that dissenting voices in council meetings are routinely ignored.
“My dissenting opinions, detailed observations, and suggestions are never forwarded to the concerned departments,” she said. “The statutory body has been reduced to a mere formality, just a mechanism to pass decisions without genuine debate or discussion. We cannot be treated as rubber stamps.”
The university also established the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies (CIPS) in 2023 to explore, document and preserve the experiences of Partition survivors.
The centre has been building a library of interviews with individuals from the Partition era and cataloguing-related literature from across the country. Soon, CIPS will make its collection accessible to the public.
Over the past few years, the university has implemented several changes to the curriculum of various courses and included many new courses.
In December last year, DU proposed the introduction of five new value-added courses (VACs), with four of them focused on the Bhagavad Gita.
In 2023, the university’s Academic Council (AC), the highest decision-making body on academic matters, approved the removal of a unit on Muhammad Iqbal and the introduction of a new course on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.
The content on Iqbal, the poet renowned for penning Saare Jahan Se Achha, was removed from the Political Science BA (Honours) syllabus.
“Those who laid the foundation to break India should not be in the syllabus,” said a statement from the vice chancellor’s office.
The new course on Savarkar was introduced as an elective for students doing a BA with Political Science as their major. This is the first time that Savarkar was added to the syllabus.
DU also announced a new college after a gap of three decades in Najafgarh and named it after Savarkar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation in January this year.
On 9 and 10 January 2025, Delhi University organised a two-day international conference, “India’s Foreign Policy under Modi 3.0: Challenges and Opportunities”, with Ram Madhav invited as the keynote speaker.
Rajesh Jha also expressed concerns about the Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), which conducts professional development programmes for teachers, noting that many of its sessions now partner with organisations linked to the ruling government, compromising the neutrality and integrity of educational programmes. These courses are mandatory for teachers for their promotions.
The India Foundation — a Delhi-based think tank founded by Ajit Doval’s son, Saurya Doval, and headed by Ram Madhav — regularly organises Capacity Building Programmes in academic collaboration with CPDHE.
Most recently, it organised a series of lectures between 17 March and 29 March, featuring senior BJP leaders, including Madhav and Swapan Das Gupta, as distinguished speakers.
In August 2023, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP and Delhi University faculty Manoj Jha claimed his lecture at the CPDHE was cancelled for unknown reasons.
Meanwhile, the principal of a North Campus college, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that faculty development programmes attract participants from diverse backgrounds.
“Just because some of these programmes feature speakers aligned with a particular ideology doesn’t mean they all do. It’s unfair to make such generalisations,” the principal said.
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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