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DU passes motion to drop chapter on “Saare Jahan Se Achha” poet Muhammad Iqbal

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In a recent move, Delhi University’s Academic Council has decided to scrap a chapter on Mohd. Iqbal, who is often assumed to initiate the idea of Pakistan. Simultaneously, the University has approved the setting up the new Partition, Hindu, and Tribal study centres. 

 On May 26, Delhi University’s Academic Council (AC) approved a motion to eliminate a chapter on Pakistan’s national poet -Muhammad Iqbal- writer of the celebrated song “Saare Jahan Se Achha”. The chapter titled ‘Modern India Political Thought’ was part of the political science syllabus for a sixth-semester paper for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A) program. The decision for its removal was taken during the University’s 1014th Academic Council meeting. The proposal, however, will need to receive final approval from DU’s Executive Council (EC), which is expected to meet next on June 9.

A motion was brought regarding a change in the syllabus of political science. As per the motion, there was a chapter on Iqbal that has been removed from the syllabus.

– stated a member of the Academic Council.

 Muhammad Iqbal, born in 1877 in undivided India, was considered the brain behind the idea of Pakistan. Often referred to as the honorific Allama, he was a widely recognised Urdu and Persian poet in the Indian subcontinent. According to India Today, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Yogesh Singh commented that “those who laid the foundation to break India should not be in the syllabus” and emphasised teaching Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar and others. Reportedly, the House unanimously approved the Vice Chancellor’s proposal.

Among the 11 units part of the syllabus, the one on Iqbal titled ‘Iqbal: Community’, was reviewed by the Press Trust of India (PTI), as reported by the Mint. The course intends to study important themes through individual thinkers, some of which include Rammohan Roy, Pandita Ramabai, Swami Vivekananda, and Mahatma Gandhi.

The course has been designed to give students a glimpse into the richness and diversity within Indian political thought. The thematic exploration of ideas is meant to locate the topical debates on important subjects on a historical trajectory and reflect over the diverse possibilities exhibited in the writings of the respective thinkers.

– the syllabus mentions.

 According to sources, DU registrar Vikas Gupta mentioned that the proposals for establishing various new centres were also approved in the council meeting on Friday.

Proposals on setting up of centers for Partition, Hindu, and Tribal Studies have been passed. Mohd Iqbal has been dropped from the syllabus

– DU registrar Vikas Gupta

 However, 5 members of the Council, claiming the ideas as “divisive”, opposed the proposal for Partition Studies. They stated that such a discussion would only “provide an opportunity for venomous communal speeches,”.

The proposal for the center is meant to be divisive. Its objective states that the center will study past invasions, suffering, and slavery over 1300 years. It is offensive, communally divisive, and intellectually coherent

– asserted a statement signed by 5 members of the AC, according to the Hindustan Times

The Delhi unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) issued a statement welcoming the decision to scrap Iqbal – a “fanatic theological scholar” – from the syllabus.

Mohd Iqbal is called ‘the philosophical father of Pakistan’. He was the key player in establishing Jinnah as a leader in Muslim League. Mohd. Iqbal is as responsible for India’s Partition as Mohammad Ali Jinnah is.

– a statement issued by ABVP on the matter.

 The recommendations for the fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters of various courses under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022 were also passed during the meeting. Additionally, the University held deliberations on its decision to adopt the four-year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) from the 2023-24 session.

 

 

Read also: DU Philosophy Department Opposes Decision to Scrap Course on Ambedkar – DU Beat – Delhi University’s Independent Student Newspaper

 

Featured Image Credits: World Bulletin

 

Manvi Goel

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Journalism has been called the “first rough draft of history”. D.U.B may be termed as the first rough draft of DU history. Freedom to Express.

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