The Delhi University’s Academic Council (AC) has approved a proposal to introduce a course on Sikh martyrdom for all undergraduate students, focusing on how the Sikh community emerged in response to “religious persecution” and “state oppression” during the Mughal period and later during foreign invasions.

The Centre for Independence and Partition Studies (CIPS), University of Delhi has introduced a course “Sikh Martyrdom in Indian History (c. 1500-1765)” which is for all General Elective (GE) courses.

According to the curriculum, the course aims to “throw light on the moral basis of emergent struggle by Sikhs to resist religious persecution” and “focus on the neglected social-religious history of martyrdom in the Indian context.” It also aims to “encourage critical and reflective engagement with Sikh history, especially the legacy of martyrdom, from a moral and socio-political perspective.”The syllabus is divided into four units.

The first unit begins with an overview of how Sikhism emerged, the conditions in Punjab under the Mughal empire, what martyrdom means in the Sikh tradition, and the contributions of the early Sikh gurus from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Ramdas.

The second unit looks at how the Mughal state used its power to suppress Sikhs. It focuses on the lives and martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev and Guru Tegh Bahadur, as well as the responses to state policies during the time of Guru Hargobind and Guru Harkrishan. It also includes the stories of Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dayala.

The third unit delineates the forging of Sikh identity by Guru Gobind Singh by organising community and by opposing the “misdeeds of the Mughal State”. It also covers the struggle of Sikhs under Guru Gobind Singh, their battles, the martyrdom of Sahibzadas, the rise of Banda Singh Bahadur, his victorious battles and his martyrdom.

The final part focuses on other key Sikh warriors and martyrs and their struggle in encountering “religious bigotry of Mughal rulers and foreign invaders”. It also highlights important places linked to Sikh history, such as Sri Harmandir Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Sirhind, Gurdwara Sis Ganj, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, and Lohgarh Fort.

 The objective of this course is to understand the historical context associated with the Sikh community and major historical examples of Sikh martyrdom, religious persecution and resistance against hegemonic state oppression, DU Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh said on Saturday  at the 1023 rd meeting of the Academic Council (AC), University of Delhi.

 Through this course, students will be able to understand the gaps existing in the emerging history writing on the Mughal state and society in particular and Indian history in general. This course will enable students to develop a critical understanding of the hitherto neglected socio-religious history of Sikh martyrdom and the evolving society in Indian history with special focus on Sikhs.

Delhi University(DU)students will be also able to learn the tricks of radio jockeying under the Skill Enhancement Courses (SEC). In this, students will be trained in tasks like voice training, pronunciation, studio operation and real time show hosting including mock studio practice and interaction with professionals.

Nuances like voice warm-up, breath control, pitch, tone and pronunciation, microphone, audio console, basics of recording software, music curation and segment planning, show scheduling, live audience interaction, script reading, diction, intonation, anchoring practice and feedback will be taught.

Meanwhile, the undergraduate academic session of DU is starting from August one after five years. For this, the members of the Academic Council thanked the Vice Chancellor. During the Zero Hour at the beginning of the meeting, the members of the council discussed many issues in detail and presented their views and suggestions.

The Academic Council also gave the nod for eight new courses namely Vacuum Technology, Eco-Printing on Textile, Surface Ornamentation, Digital Tools for Interior Designing, Radio Jockeying, Medical Diagnostics, Methods in Epidemiological Data Analysis and Methods in Epidemiological Data Collection.