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Nov

Cows Over Classrooms: When Delhi University Put Godhan Before Academia

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In a move that sounds more like satire than reality, Delhi University—one of India’s premier academic institutions—has found itself in the middle of a storm where cow rights seem to have outpaced academic freedom. What should have been an ordinary week of seminars and research discussions has turned into a bizarre debate over whether universities should prioritize scholarship or sanctify the sacred cow.

The controversy began when the university administration directed all colleges to participate in a National Godhan Summit, a five-day event dedicated to “Panchgavya” (cow-derived products) and the promotion of cow-based livelihoods. The circular, issued on October 29 by the Office of the Dean of Colleges, encouraged teachers, staff, and students to attend the event, jointly organized by the Rashtriya Godhan Mahasangh from November 5–9 in Delhi.

The Dean’s letter described the summit as a celebration of the “Bio E-3” model—environment, employment, and economy—and highlighted that over 600 gaushalas (cow shelters) and social activists would participate. “Exhibitions showcasing Panchgavya products will be a major highlight,” the letter read, adding that all were “cordially invited” to grace the occasion.

However, what shocked the academic community was the timing and tone of this directive. On the very same day, the university cancelled a scheduled seminar on “Land, Property, and Democratic Rights”, to be held by the Sociology Department of the Delhi School of Economics (DSE) on October 31.

For many in the university, the irony was hard to miss—a discussion on democratic rights was silenced, while a summit on cow products was endorsed.

 

Delhi University has sparked controversy after directing all colleges to participate in the National Godhan Summit, a five-day event promoting cow-based products and livelihoods, while simultaneously cancelling a Sociology Department seminar on “Land, Property, and Democratic Rights.” The circular, issued on October 29, urged attendance at the cow summit, describing it as a celebration of “environment, employment, and economy.”
Wednesday Wisdom
By Satish Misra
 Critics, including the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) and faculty members like Abha Dev Habib, denounced the move as “anti-academic” and evidence of ideological interference in education. Renowned sociologist Prof. Nandini Sundar resigned as convener of the DSE’s “Friday Colloquium” in protest, citing loss of academic freedom. Many see the cancellation as politically driven, marking a troubling shift from intellectual inquiry to dogmatic symbolism. The episode highlights growing concerns about the erosion of free thought and the saffronisation of India’s academic institutions.

 

The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) condemned the move, calling it “anti-academic” and “symbolic of the university’s drift from knowledge to dogma.” In a sharp statement, the DTF said, “These actions reflect a conscious shift away from scientific temper and academic integrity toward the promotion of unscientific and regressive ideas.”

Abha Dev Habib, Miranda House faculty member and DTF representative, minced no words: “This is an abuse of the Dean’s office. By endorsing a little-known organisation aligned with the government’s ideology, the administration is legitimizing propaganda, not promoting education.”

A former college principal, Prof. R. S. Shukla, went a step further, calling it evidence of “complete saffronisation of education.” He added, “It seems the priority now is cow development, not student development. The younger generation is being sidelined for ideological symbolism.”

For decades, the DSE’s Sociology Department has hosted the “Friday Colloquium,” a respected platform for rigorous academic exchange. The cancellation of the latest event prompted noted sociologist Prof. Nandini Sundar to resign as convener.

In a candid Facebook post, Sundar wrote, “No reason for cancellation was given. One can only assume the government is wary of discussions on land and democratic rights. Since I can no longer guarantee academic freedom, I have stepped down.” She lamented the erosion of a space where students engaged with “some of the finest minds in social sciences.”

Sources within DU hinted that the seminar was cancelled due to “lack of official permission,” but many see that as a weak justification for what appears to be an ideologically motivated act.

Rajesh Jha of Rajdhani College summed up the mood in the faculty circles: “Universities should be arenas for free thought, not ideological battlegrounds. Freedom of expression is essential for innovation, scientific temper, and progressive learning.”

What was once a matter of intellectual pursuit at Delhi University has now become a case study in administrative irony—where cows enjoy institutional priority over classrooms, and the right to worship has trumped the right to think. (Dr Satish Misra is a senior journalist and seasoned political analyst. He has been a Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.)

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