Deshbandhu College is the only Delhi University (DU) affiliated college that offers BA program in the Sindhi Language but no candidate has applied for the program in the academic year 2020-21.
Officials stated that out of the 63 colleges affiliated to Delhi University, only Deshbandhu College offers BA Sindhi program. Since no candidates have opted for the course, the college is struggling to sustain the department.
The Delhi University has announced not to provide any additional relaxations in the cut off marks for this academic year. The Administration members of Deshbandhu College stated that this decision of the university has led the college to such a situation.
Deshbandhu college has provided admission to five candidates in the BA Sindhi program in the academic year 2019-20. The admission process of DU was concluded on December 31, 2020, but no candidate has opted for the course in the academic year 2020-21.
The admission convenor for the BA program at Deshbandhu College, Chotu Ram Meena stated that the college has managed to get admission every year by providing some relaxation in the cut off marks. But DU has ordered not to provide any concessions in the cut off marks. Hence no admission was provided in Sindhi this year.
Shobha Bagai, the Dean of DU admission stated, “ The admission committee had decided that colleges would not be allowed to have any additional admission criteria in order to avoid any confusion among students as the admission process was shifted online. Giving relaxations in cut off for opting MIL is also an additional criterion being used by several colleges. But the administration later had allowed colleges to give relaxation and fill the seats under the two special cut-offs.”
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The principal of Deshbandhu college, Rajiv Agarwal stated that two students who belong to Sindhi families were admitted in another BA program and counselling is provided to them to adopt for Sindhi as a language subject.
Mr Agarwal also stated that it is difficult for the college to sustain the department because only a few students are opting for the Sindhi Language every year. The college has also requested the DU to allow them to offer Sindhi as a language option to students who were admitted in courses other than BA program but the University has not responded back yet.
An associate professor of Sindhi at DU’s department of Modern Indian Language (MIL), Rajiv Tekchandani stated that the university is also dealing with a similar situation. He is the only teacher available for Sindhi language and the university offers various certification and diploma courses.
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Only two students were admitted to the certification and diploma courses till the previous year. In the current academic year, only two candidates have opted for MPhil and three candidates have opted for PhD in the Sindhi Language.
Mr Tekchandani added that Sindhi is one of the 22 recognized languages in the Indian Constitution. The National Education Policy describes the importance of promoting Indian Languages. DU should consider this and make the Sindhi language available for students who have opted for other courses as well.
DU should establish a board to promote the Sindhi Language just like how the Hindi language was promoted, Rajiv Tekchandani stated.
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