DU students protest against mandatory language paper in four-year programme

Delhi University students protested against the inclusion of a compulsory language paper in the four-year undergraduate programme,on Monday.

Delhi University students protested against the inclusion of a compulsory language paper in the four-year undergraduate programme,on Monday. They protested near the proctors office.

The first-year foundation course includes a mandatory language paper,which is either Hindi or a modern Indian language (MIL). Students,mainly from the Northeast,said Hindi was being imposed on them as many languages of the Northeast are not included under the MILs.

The Northeast Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) has been running a campaign to oppose the study of Hindi and MILs from the next academic session. Excluded languages include Hmar,Tangkhul,Nagamese,Kuki,Bodo,Sikkimese,among others,students said.

NEFIS has held two protests the first on March 22 when a memorandum was submitted to the DU administration and the second on March 25 when students approached DU authorities to seek a response.

Since no response was forthcoming,NEFIS again organised a demonstration in the University, Chinglen Khumukcham,a student of History at Ramjas College,said.

Students gathered near the Vivekananda Statue,Faculty of Arts,Delhi University,and held a public meeting. Speakers from various communities of the Northeast addressed the students and voiced their protest against being asked to study languages they dont speak.

Chinglen said students have decided to stage another protest at the HRD Ministry next week.

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