'Muslim', 'Bihari' As 'Mother Tongue' Options On Delhi University Admission Forms Spark Outrage
Critics question whether this is a deliberate act or gross negligence, highlighting concerns about linguistic discrimination within educational institutions.
A major controversy has erupted over Delhi University’s undergraduate admission form after allegations surfaced that the university removed "Urdu" from the list of mother tongue options and replaced it with "Muslim."
This move has sparked outrage among students, teachers, and education experts, with many calling it a violation of the Indian Constitution’s Eighth Schedule and an alarming display of communal bias.
In its undergraduate admission form, DU typically asks applicants to mention their mother tongue. However, this year, the option for "Urdu" is missing. Instead, the form reportedly lists "Muslim" as a language—a categorization experts say is factually and constitutionally incorrect.
Shockingly, other caste- and occupation-based labels such as “Bihari,” “Ch***r,” “Mazdoor,” “Dehati,” “Mochi,” and “Kurmi” have also appeared under the mother tongue section, raising serious concerns about the intent behind the form’s design.
Academic Community Reacts Strongly
Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College and elected DUTA (Delhi University Teachers' Association) member, called the development “a calculated act of communalism.”
“If this is madness, it's methodical madness,” he said. “Removing Urdu is not just about erasing a language—it’s about erasing a shared cultural and literary legacy.”
Chakraborty added that DU seems to have wrongly assumed that Urdu is exclusive to Muslims, thereby replacing the language name with a religious identity. He criticized the move as an attempt to otherize India’s largest minority community.
Deliberate Move or Ignorant Mistake?
DU Professor and academic leader Abha Dev Habib warned that over 3 lakh students are expected to fill out this form and described the error as “a systematic downfall of DU.” She emphasised that Urdu is one of the 22 recognized languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. Its removal, she said, could be interpreted as a direct violation of constitutional principles.
“This isn’t just an insult to a constitutionally recognized language, but a disturbing sign of communal intent,” she said. “Is DU unaware that Muslims, like all Indians, speak regional languages too?”
Habib raised a serious question: how can a central university make such a glaring mistake—unless it’s intentional?
Misuse of Terminology
Chakraborty also took issue with the university's use of terminology. He stated that the correct term for ‘mother tongue’ in official forms is “native language,” not “mother tongue,” which is informal and unsuitable for administrative purposes.
The controversy has now snowballed into a larger debate: Are educational institutions becoming sites of communal bias and linguistic discrimination?
As of now, Delhi University has not issued any clarification or response regarding the matter.
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