Include teachings of Buddha, Gandhi,; drop Palestine, Kashmir issues: DU panel proposes changes to psychology curriculum

According to internal notes and faculty present at the meeting, the committee also discussed removing content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue

4 min readNew DelhiMay 6, 2025 05:20 AM IST

The Standing Committee meeting was held on May 2 (File)

The Delhi University’s Standing Committee on Academic Affairs has proposed incorporating teachings of Gautam Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi, and traditions from Jain philosophy, alongside texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, into the psychology curriculum under the units that deal with peacebuilding and conflict, The Indian Express has learnt.

“There are no bigger symbols than Gandhi and Buddha — they represent peace and universal values,” said a committee member on the condition of anonymity. The move aims to “reduce the over-representation of Western thinkers” and bring in an Indian perspective, said sources. The suggestions were discussed during a meeting on May 2, as part of the syllabus revision for undergraduate (seventh and eighth semesters) and postgraduate psychology curriculum under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

According to internal notes and faculty present at the meeting, the committee also discussed removing content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Kashmir issue from a unit titled ‘Conflict and Conflict Resolution’, arguing that these were politically divisive and lacked relevance in a psychology course.

“When societies and nations are already divided on these two issues, what is the need to teach these in the classroom and divide students further?” said a committee member. Another added, “Kashmir is a resolved issue as per Parliament… there is no need for it to be part of psychology.”

When contacted, Shri Prakash Singh, Director of South Campus and Chairperson of the Standing Committee said, “The meeting is inconclusive and nothing has been dropped yet,” without elaborating further. Supporters of the suggested revisions argue that Indian traditions offer valuable frameworks for understanding human behaviour and peacebuilding. “Buddha always stood against Brahmanical and Vedantic philosophy, and his teachings suit everyone,” said another member, stressing that these perspectives are inclusive and better aligned with Indian cultural realities.

However, several faculty members present at the meeting raised strong objections. According to them, the Chair not only dismissed discussions on international conflicts but also objected to the inclusion of topics such as dating apps, the Minority Stress Theory, and the psychology of diversity.

In a unit of a paper titled ‘Digital Lives and Mental Health’, which explores the psychological impact of dating apps, some faculty members present at the meeting said that the Chair said such topics were unnecessary, adding that “our Indian family system and arranged marriage traditions are strong, and we need not imbibe everything from the West.”

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Professor Urmi Nanda Biswas, Head of the Department of Psychology, however, is learnt to have defended the topic, citing recent cases of mental health crises and suicides linked to dating app usage among youth.

The Minority Stress Theory—used to study how social stressors affect marginalised communities—was also flagged for removal by the Chair, claimed a few members, alongside objections to the teaching of caste, gender, and prejudice within the Psychology of Diversity paper.
But another set of members on the committee said, “Stress is universal. In India, the only minority is the Muslim minority,” referring to a narrower framing of psychological vulnerability.

Meanwhile, some faculty members present at the meeting called the proposed revisions “politically motivated”. “This is not just about syllabus design. This is about academic freedom,” said Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee and Associate Professor at Kamala Nehru College. “It is concerning that the autonomy of the Department seems to be overlooked, as the Chair’s actions appear to be politically motivated and represent unwarranted interference in academic decision-making,” she said.

A new panel has been constituted to revisit the syllabus, with final recommendations expected by May 6.

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Professor Urmi Nanda Biswas, HoD, Psychology, declined to comment on the matter.

Vidheesha Kuntamalla

Vidheesha Kuntamalla is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She is known for her investigative reporting on higher education policy, international student immigration, and academic freedom on university campuses. Her work consistently connects policy decisions with lived realities, foregrounding how administrative actions, political pressure, and global shifts affect students, faculty, and institutions. Professional Profile Core Beat: Vidheesha covers education in Delhi and nationally, reporting on major public institutions including the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, the IITs, and the IIMs. She also reports extensively on private and government schools in the National Capital Region. Prior to joining The Indian Express, she worked as a freelance journalist in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for over a year, covering politics, rural issues, women-centric issues, and social justice. Specialisation: She has developed a strong niche in reporting on the Indian student diaspora, particularly the challenges faced by Indian students and H-1B holders in the United States. Her work examines how geopolitical shifts, immigration policy changes, and campus politics impact global education mobility. She has also reported widely on: * Mental health crises and student suicides at IITs * Policy responses to campus mental health * Academic freedom and institutional clampdowns at JNU, South Asian University (SAU), and Delhi University * Curriculum and syllabus changes under the National Education Policy Her recent reporting has included deeply reported human stories on policy changes during the Trump administration and their consequences for Indian students and researchers in the US. Reporting Style Vidheesha is recognised for a human-centric approach to policy reporting, combining investigative depth with intimate storytelling. Her work often highlights the anxieties of students and faculty navigating bureaucratic uncertainty, legal precarity, and institutional pressure. She regularly works with court records, internal documents, official data, and disciplinary frameworks to expose structural challenges to academic freedom. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 & 2025) 1. Express Investigation Series JNU’s fault lines move from campus to court: University fights students and faculty (November 2025) An Indian Express investigation found that since 2011, JNU has appeared in over 600 cases before the Delhi High Court, filed by the administration, faculty, staff, students, and contractual workers across the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. JNU’s legal wars with students and faculty pile up under 3 V-Cs | Rs 30-lakh fines chill campus dissent (November 2025) The report traced how steep monetary penalties — now codified in the Chief Proctor’s Office Manual — are reshaping dissent and disciplinary action on campus. 2. International Education & Immigration ‘Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation — to a country he has never known (October 2025) H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear? (September 2025) Khammam to Dallas, Jhansi to Seattle — audacious journeys in pursuit of the American dream after H-1B visa fee hike (September 2025) What a proposed 15% cap on foreign admissions in the US could mean for Indian students (October 2025) Anxiety on campus after Trump says visas of pro-Palestinian protesters will be cancelled (January 2025) ‘I couldn’t believe it’: F-1 status of some Indian students restored after US reverses abrupt visa terminations (April 2025) 3. Academic Freedom & Policy Exclusive: South Asian University fires professor for ‘inciting students’ during stipend protests (September 2025) Exclusive: Ministry seeks explanation from JNU V-C for skipping Centre’s meet, views absence ‘seriously’ (July 2025) SAU rows after Noam Chomsky mentions PM Modi, Lankan scholar resigns, PhD student exits SAU A series of five stories examining shrinking academic freedom at South Asian University after global scholar Noam Chomsky referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an academic interaction, triggering administrative unease and renewed debate over political speech, surveillance, and institutional autonomy on Indian campuses. 4. Mental Health on Campuses In post-pandemic years, counselling rooms at IITs are busier than ever; IIT-wise data shows why (August 2025) Campus suicides: IIT-Delhi panel flags toxic competition, caste bias, burnout (April 2025) 5. Delhi Schools These Delhi government school grads are now success stories. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t (February 2025) ‘Ma’am… may I share something?’ Growing up online and alone, why Delhi’s teens are reaching out (December 2025) ... Read More

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