Delhi University Faces Backlash for Listing ‘Muslim’ as Language Instead of Urdu

Delhi University Faces Backlash for Listing ‘Muslim’ as Language Instead of Urdu — Calls It a Clerical Error

June 21, 2025

❖ Introduction: A 'Clerical Error' Sparks National Debate

Delhi University (DU), one of India’s premier higher education institutions, found itself at the center of a linguistic and communal controversy after its undergraduate admission form listed “Muslim” as a mother tongue while omitting Urdu—a constitutionally recognized language. Following public outrage and criticism from academics and civil society, the university issued a formal clarification describing the issue as a “clerical error.”

❖ The Controversial Admission Form

Screenshots of DU’s undergraduate admission portal began circulating on social media platforms on Saturday, showing "Muslim" among the options listed for mother tongue. Notably, Urdu, which holds official status under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, was missing.

The form quickly drew sharp criticism from across the academic spectrum and political commentators. Observers highlighted that such a mix-up is not a minor oversight, but rather a symbol of institutional insensitivity towards both linguistic diversity and religious identity.

❖ Delhi University’s Official Clarification

In response to the backlash, DU issued a public statement:

“The University of Delhi sincerely regrets the inadvertent error in its admission form. We acknowledge your concerns and are committed to addressing them. However, attributing ulterior motives to this entirely unintentional oversight is unwarranted.”

The university also requested the public to refrain from disrupting the “diverse and harmonious environment” of the campus.

The admission portal was briefly taken offline and later restored, with the necessary corrections made. However, no detailed explanation was offered regarding how such an error occurred in the first place.

❖ Academic and Civil Society Reactions

Many in the academic community rejected DU's explanation of the incident being a “clerical error,” calling it a reflection of deeper institutional and systemic biases.

Abha Dev Habib, former member of DU’s Executive Council, stated:

“This is not an innocent mistake. The error reflects deep-seated biases — conflating religion with language is not just ignorant, it's communal.”

Similarly, Dr. Mithuraaj Dhusiya, another member of the Executive Council, observed:

“Mistakes like these damage the university's inclusive image. Urdu is not just a language — it is an essential part of India’s cultural and literary legacy.”

❖ Urdu: Language, Legacy and Representation

Urdu, a language with a rich literary tradition and shared cultural heritage, is spoken widely across India by people of all religious backgrounds. It is recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and has official language status in several Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.

Faculty from DU’s colleges raised concerns about the portrayal of Urdu as solely a 'Muslim' language, arguing that such classification not only misrepresents the language but also stigmatizes the Muslim community. Professor Rudrashish Chakraborty of Kirori Mal College called it a “worrying attempt to misrepresent India’s largest minority community.”

❖ Linguistic Sensitivity in Higher Education

The controversy has reignited a broader debate about the need for linguistic sensitivity and precision in academic institutions. Many teachers noted that even the use of the term “mother tongue” in admission forms may be colloquial and suggested that terms like “first language” or “native language” would be more academically appropriate and inclusive.

❖ Institutional Integrity Under Scrutiny

This incident has triggered a conversation around institutional responsibility, administrative vetting, and safeguarding diversity in public universities. Faculty members pointed out that such lapses erode trust and compromise the inclusive values that higher education institutions are expected to uphold.

❖ Conclusion: A Teachable Moment for Higher Education?

The DU incident highlights the importance of cultural competence, linguistic accuracy, and ethical accountability in administrative operations. While the university has corrected the error and issued a statement, the damage to institutional credibility has already raised difficult questions.

This moment can serve as a learning opportunity for academic institutions across India to re-evaluate their admission practices, ensure proper review mechanisms, and reaffirm their commitment to constitutional values—especially in an increasingly polarized social environment.