Delhi University’s Academic Council has made the decision to remove a chapter on Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s national poet, from the political science syllabus.
Muhammad Iqbal, known for writing the famous patriotic song “Saare Jahan Se Achha,” is often credited with giving birth to the idea of Pakistan. However, the council deemed his inclusion in the syllabus unnecessary.
The motion to remove the chapter titled ‘Modern Indian Political Thought’ from the Bachelor of Arts (BA) sixth-semester paper was proposed by Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh. He stated that individuals who played a role in the division of India should not be part of the syllabus.
The Vice Chancellor’s proposal received unanimous approval from the Academic Council during their 1014th meeting. The council also passed resolutions for the syllabus of the fourth, fifth, and sixth semesters of various courses under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022, emphasizing the teaching of figures like Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar.
While the decision was welcomed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), five council members opposed the proposal to set up a new center for Partition Studies, arguing that it was “divisive.”
The controversy surrounding the removal of Muhammad Iqbal’s chapter from the syllabus reflects differing opinions on his historical significance and the events surrounding India’s partition.
