New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) is under fire from faculty members and teachers’ associations after promoting a cow welfare summit while cancelling an academic seminar on land and democracy. The contrasting actions have raised concerns over what critics describe as growing ideological influence within the university.
An email from the Office of the Dean of Colleges this week urged all principals to circulate details of the five-day “Rashtriya Godhan Summit” at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. The summit, featuring representatives from over 600 gaushalas, aims to promote “cow-based sustainable innovations.” Faculty members questioned the university’s enthusiasm for such events, saying it reflects a shift away from scientific and academic priorities.
Days earlier, the Sociology Department at the Delhi School of Economics saw its seminar titled “Land, Property and Democratic Rights” cancelled without explanation. The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) accused the administration of moving “from knowledge to dogma,” calling the decision a deliberate attempt to promote belief-based narratives over intellectual inquiry.
Professor Nandini Sundar resigned as convenor of the DSE colloquium following the cancellation, citing concerns over academic integrity. Other faculty members, including Professor Rudrashish Chakraborty, warned that the university was being “transformed into an extension of ruling ideology.”
DU Registrar Vikas Gupta denied any bias, saying the cow summit circular was simply shared with colleges and that the seminar was cancelled due to lack of prior approval. Critics, however, argue the pattern points to selective enforcement and growing administrative control over academic freedom.
