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Delhi University Philosophy Department Bans Controversial Content from Curriculum

In a recent directive, Delhi University's Philosophy Department has prohibited the inclusion of controversial materials related to Pakistan, poet Muhammad Iqbal, and Manusmriti in its undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Faculty members are tasked with reviewing course content to ensure compliance. This move follows previous removals of Iqbal-related content and recommendations to eliminate contentious topics from psychology courses. Additionally, a proposed Biopolitics course has been canceled, with the administration citing the need for social unity as the rationale behind these changes. Read on to learn more about the implications of these decisions.
By Ambika Singh Jun 16, 2025, 11:11 IST
Delhi University Philosophy Department Bans Controversial Content from Curriculum

New Directive from Delhi University



The Philosophy Department at Delhi University has received a directive prohibiting the inclusion of any material related to Pakistan, the renowned poet and thinker Muhammad Iqbal, and the ancient text Manusmriti in both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses. This instruction was issued on June 12 by the Academic Dean, who has requested the department to complete its review by June 16. An email from the Dean's office specified that none of the semester units or reading lists for the UG and PG courses (under the NEP) should reference these three items.


Faculty Members Directed to Review Course Content

All faculty members in the department have been instructed to meticulously examine and verify the content of each course. A department member, speaking on condition of anonymity, mentioned that the Vice-Chancellor has repeatedly emphasized that topics that divide society will not be taught at the university. Content related to Iqbal has been removed previously, yet some departments attempted to reintroduce it into the new curriculum. In 2023, a unit based on Muhammad Iqbal was removed from the BA (Honors) Political Science course. Iqbal, known for his poem 'Saare Jahan Se Achha,' was later declared Pakistan's national poet. Additionally, a new optional course on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was added this year.


Controversial Topics Removed from Psychology Course

Earlier this month, recommendations were made to eliminate contentious topics such as Kashmir and the Israel-Palestine conflict from the psychology curriculum, citing their controversial nature and unclear psychological context. Instead, it was suggested to focus more on Indian thinkers like Gandhi and Buddha.


Cancellation of Biopolitics Course

Furthermore, the university administration has also canceled a new course on Biopolitics proposed by the Philosophy Department. Initially, it was stated that this subject was related to political science, but it has now been completely removed. Some faculty members believe this course was essential, but they could not oppose it due to time constraints. The university administration claims that such changes are steps taken to maintain social unity.


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