DU VC asked to examine offending references against Hanuman in course material

The prestigious Delhi University Friday came under the Supreme Court's scanner for having sacrilegious references to Hindu god Hanuman and goddess Sita in its course material for graduation degree in History. Acting on a joint plea by some educationists, pointing out the inclusion of the offending references against the key characters of the Hindu epic Ramayana, a bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan asked the University's vice chancellor to examine the desirability of having the sacrilegious materials in the course.

 

The bench, which also included Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice J.M. Panchal asked Vice Chancellor Deepak Pental to have the desirability of having the offending references examined by an expert committee after hearing the objections of the petitioners. The bench issued the direction on a joint plea by a group of 8 eminent persons, including educationists, former diplomats, teachers, and journalists besides the political and socio-religious leaders.

 

Appearing for the petitioners, senior counsel M.N. Krishnamani apprised the court about the inclusion of sacrilegious material for graduation degree course in History. Krishnamani said the University teaches its second year History (Hons) students that "Lord hanuman was a henchman of Lord Rama" and "the little monkey was a womaniser". Krishnamani said that the compulsory course material describes even Sita as "unfaithful to Rama" and as having been "seduced by Ravana and Laxman".

 

The sacrilegious references to the Hindu gods and goddesses were made in a chapter of the book "Many Ramayanas: the diversity of narrative tradition in South Asia" edited by Paula Richman. The offensive chapter titled "Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation" written by an author A.K. Ramanujan, said Krishnamani adding that the offending course material is being thrust upon the history students since 2005.