Delhi University Adds Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Poems to PG English Syllabus, Sparking Academic Debate
New Delhi, May 24, 2025 — Delhi University (DU) has incorporated poems by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee into its postgraduate English curriculum, a move that has ignited discussions within academic circles. The inclusion, approved by the university’s Executive Council on May 23, places Vajpayee’s works under the “Post-Independence Indian Literatures” paper in the first semester of the MA English program.
Vajpayee, who served as India’s Prime Minister across three terms between 1996 and 2004, was renowned not only for his political acumen but also for his poetic contributions. His poems, such as “Kadam Milakar Chalna Hoga,” “Geet Naya Gata Hoon,” and “Aao Milke Diya Jalayen,” are celebrated for their themes of nationalism, culture, and collective spirit.
The decision to include his poetry has been met with criticism from some scholars and students. Rudrashish Chakraborty, an elected member of the Executive Council, questioned the literary merit of Vajpayee’s poems, suggesting that poets like Sudama Pandey ‘Dhoomil’, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, and Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh better represent the post-Independence literary ethos. He remarked, “Inclusion of overtly political pieces makes no sense… Vajpayee’s poems carry no literary value to be part of a PG syllabus in English” .
Sunil Sharma, another Executive Council member, clarified that the council’s role is to approve recommendations made by the Academic Council, which is the competent body to decide syllabus matters. He stated, “There was no discussion on the content of the syllabus during the meeting. The EC only passes recommendations made by the Academic Council” .
The inclusion of Vajpayee’s poems is part of a broader syllabus revision across various departments, including Sociology and Psychology. The Executive Council meeting also approved the launch of new academic programs in Journalism and Nuclear Medicine
This development follows the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)’s earlier decision to introduce Vajpayee’s poem “Kadam Milakar Chalna Hoga” in a Class 8 textbook, emphasizing the poet’s appeal for unity and collective progress.
As debates continue, the university community awaits further discussions on the balance between literary merit and the inclusion of political figures in academic curricula.
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