DU clarifies PM's daughter had no role in controversial essays

NEW DELHI: Amid widespread protests by right-wing student groups, Delhi University on Thursday clarified that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's daughter Upinder Singh was neither the author nor the compiler of a book on 'Ramayana'.
    
"Upinder Singh is neither the editor nor compiler of the book on Cultural History of Ancient India. Contrary to the impression put by the media, she has neither written nor edited the text in question. There is only a selection of readings which exist in a photocopy format," Professor S Z H Jafri, Head of Department, History Department, DU, said.
    
On February 25, activists belonging to the right-wing student's group ABVP had allegedly ransacked the room of the HoD, History Department, and manhandled the head himself.
    
They were objecting to essays written by A K Ramanujan titled "Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation" that have been included in the B A programme as recommending reading for history.
    
"They had entered my room in the guise of submitting a memorandum, but they were actually not carrying any. They wanted to talk in the presence of the media so that everything was on record. As members of the press took position, they started breaking glass panes and overturned the table. They held my collar and threatened me," recalled Jafri.
    
He stated that the sole purpose of the course was to create an awareness and undestanding of the rich diversity of the cultural heritage of India among students and to acquaint them with original sources.