DMK flays removal of Arundhati Roy’s book from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University curriculum

Slamming the decision made by the varsity on the insistence of the BJP’s student’s wing ABVP, DMK deputy general secretary A Raja said the curriculum of the varsity was subject to the decision of the vice chancellor, professors and experts. However, it is worth noting that the reason for the removal of a book which was in the curriculum for three years was the insistence of ABVP. Remarking that excesses of the BJP-backed ABVP to saffronise education started in Delhi University a few years ago with the removal of an essay titled “300 Ramayanas” by renowned historian AK Ramanujam following ABVP objection, Raja said that it was a practice to provide an opportunity for post graduate students to learn all kinds of history and literature.

It is highly condemnable that a book authored by a renowned author has been removed from curriculum after three years to prevent alternate views in saffronisation of education, the DMK deputy general secretary said, wondering how Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami would justify the removal of the book from the curriculum based on the opposition of BJP.

Seeking to know if the VC of MS university was towing the line of Anna University vice chancellor Surappa, Raja said the removal of Roy’s book was only an extension of the right wing communal elements, which shiver at words like Tamil, Tirukkural, Dravidam and secularism, branding people as anti-Indians and urban naxals. Opining that only such communal elements were real anti-Indians who destroy the communal harmony of the country, Raja said the DMK would not be a mute spectator to the saffronisation of education. Raja also said the silence of the AIADMK regime on the issue makes him wonder if they have pawned universities to the BJP-led Centre in toto.

Meanwhile, Arundhati Roy reacting to the MSU’s move in a statement said, “When I heard of the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University’s decision to remove my book Walking with the Comrades from its curriculum following threats and pressure from the ABVP—oddly enough I was happier than sad because I had no idea that it was in the curriculum in the first place. I am glad it has been taught for several years. I am not in the least bit shocked or surprised that it has been removed from the syllabus now. It was my duty as a writer to write it. It is not my duty to fight for its place on a university curriculum. That is for others to do or not do.”