Sundar’s book at centre of controversy at DU meet

NEW DELHI: There was some ruckus at Delhi University’s academic council meeting when members of the National Democratic Teacher’s Front opposed the inclusion of three chapters of sociologist Nandini Sundar’s book, ‘The Burning Forest: India’s War in Bastar’, in the suggested reading list of ‘Political Sociology’.
The protesters objected to the title of the book, which they said alluded to propagating war against India and spread of “Maoist ideologies”.The AC rejected the objections and referred the book to the department for reconsideration. Sundar, however, said she was not worried and would wait for the committee report.
Speaking to TOI, AC member R N Dubey said the title of the book spoke for itself. “What war is India fighting in Bastar?” he asked. Dubey also said that Sundar had several charges against her in Chhattisgarh and, therefore, “we should be cautious of what she writes”.
However, when asked if he had read the chapters he was objecting to, Dubey said he had “only read reviews of the book, which mentioned that anti-Maoist organizations like Salwa Judum have been targeted in it”. Sundar said those opposing her might not have even read her book. “My work is widely read all over the world and students will read it, regardless of objections of a few,” she said.
On a committee being set up to reconsider the book, Sundar said she was not worried. “They can set up a committee and try finding problematic content in the book.” Coming to support of Sundar were many AC members who opposed the objections raised by the NDTF. Despite repeated attempts, the HOD of the sociology department refused to comment.