Irom Sharmila Opposes Decision on Making Hindi Compulsory in Delhi University

Iron Chanu Sharmila, an activist, supported non-Hindi students in Delhi University. She opposed the recent decision taken by the DU which mandates Hindi as a compulsory paper at the undergraduate level. Sharmila criticised that the university should not compel students to learn Hindi and appear for an examination which affects overall academic results and prospects of DU. She believes that this decision is a severe discrimination.

Earlier, Delhi University had announced that the students who have not studied Hindi till Class VIII will have to pass a Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) to get his/her undergraduate degree. Currently, the Hindi Department has directed all the DU college principals to identify non-Hindi speaking students and commence the course for the exam.

Also read: - DU Makes Hindi Test Mandatory for Graduation Degrees

Last year, Hindi was not a compulsory paper in Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS). Now, the academic council of Delhi University has made changes to CBCS syllabus so that students graduating from DU know basic Hindi.

Hundreds of students who are from non-Hindi speaking states severely opposed the decision taken by DU. They explained that Hindi was a not a mandatory language in their school curriculum. Students who come from Northeast threatened to launch a stir if the Compulsory Test in Hindi (CTH) is introduced. They said that the university is trying to discriminate the students by mandating Hindi.

The principals of various DU colleges explained that they received circulars from Hindi Department to mandate Hindi. However, they clarified that they would not introduce Hindi unless they get directions from the registrar.