Amravati University drops Marathi novel on Covid lockdown from syllabus; ‘targeting literature,’ says author

Just weeks before the end-semester examinations, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University has removed the Marathi novel Te Pannas Divas – Those Fifty Days – by Pawan Bhagat from its undergraduate syllabus and replaced it with Dhag by Uddhav Shelke.

Set during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, Te Pannas Divas tells the story of three workers – Brahmin, Muslim and Dalit – making their way from Mumbai to Varanasi on foot. The majority of Amravati University’s academic council deemed this anti-government and voted to have it removed from the BA second-year fourth-semester Marathi Literature (Major-I) syllabus. It was being taught during the current academic session, from December 2025 to May 2026. According to a university notification, the text has now been replaced and the change will apply for the end semester exams to be held in May.

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The novel’s author, Pawan Bhagat criticised the decision to remove the book, calling it “wrong” and alleging that it was influenced by objections to its perceived political content. He claimed that protests by members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had led to the decision and demanded the book’s removal.

“This kind of targeting of literature is happening across the country,” he said and also highlighted the removal of some chapters from the political science syllabus in the University of Jammu .

Amravati University, run by the state government , is in western Vidarbha and has over 380 affiliated colleges.

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Amravati University: Opposition from Marathi department

Registrar Avinash Asanare said that 23 academic council members participated in the voting, of whom just eight opposed the removal while the rest supported it.

“There were differences of opinion, but the decision was taken through a democratic process. Such matters are decided by voting,” he said.

Asanare said the book had been recommended by the Board of Studies in Marathi in 2025 and introduced under the New Education Policy (NEP). “It was included in the BA second-year Marathi syllabus for the fourth semester. It has now been replaced with Dhag. The decision was taken to ensure that teachers and students do not face any problems or controversies,” he said.

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He added that the book contained “opinions about the government, both in favour and against”, and it was felt that such content was not appropriate for inclusion in the syllabus. “It was not necessary to consult students, as the board of studies and academic council are responsible for taking decisions in the best interest of students. Such changes are routine if the university feels a particular text may lead to differences or controversy,” he said.

In contrast, Shelke’s Dhag, first published in 1960, is set comfortably in the past although its main concern – grinding poverty in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region – persists.

The decision to remove Te Pannas Divas was opposed by members of the Marathi department and sections of the Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University AC. A council member and Marathi professor, who requested anonymity, said that the book’s removal was not supported by all.

“The book is a work of fiction and should be read in that context. As members of the Marathi department and board of studies, we opposed its removal. Literature reflects social realities, and such interpretations should not be the basis for removing a literary work from the syllabus,” the member said

The member argued that literature should not be judged on political grounds and that such decisions affect academic freedom.

Spent 50 days ‘observing lives of people’: Author

The novel’s author, Pawan Bhagat said the book is based on his experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I travelled and spent around 50 days observing the lives of people, and that is what I have written about. The book follows three characters – a Muslim, a Dalit and a Brahmin – travelling during the lockdown. They come from different backgrounds, but in that situation, when they are struggling to survive, their shared experience becomes more important than their identities,” he said.

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Describing the narrative, Bhagat said the characters travel on foot from Mumbai to Varanasi during the lockdown due to the suspension of train services during lockdown. “The Brahmin person dies before reaching, and the last rites are performed by the Muslim man. The story reflects the social reality of that time, focusing on survival, human relationships and the experiences of people during the pandemic,” he said.

Published in October 2022, the novel struck a chord. It was included in and continues to be part of the syllabus at University of Mumbai for MA Marathi students and at New Arts, Commerce and Science College in Ahmednagar for BA second-year Marathi.

‘Academic loss’ for BA Marathi students

The All India Students Federation (AISF) has demanded that the university put the decision on hold and reinstate the book. In a memorandum submitted under the leadership of state secretary Pratiksha Dhoke and Abhimanyu Tayade, the organisation said the change comes too close to the examinations scheduled in May.

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According to the university’s academic calendar, teaching for the current session began on November 3, 2025, and will conclude on April 18, 2026. AISF said that the replacement novel, Dhag, has not yet been taught in affiliated colleges and cannot be covered in the limited time available before exams. “This will lead to academic loss for students,” the memorandum stated.