New Delhi: The poet who wrote ‘Saare jahan se achcha will not figure in the political science syllabus of Delhi University. The Academic Council on Friday passed a motion to remove a chapter on Pakistan’s national poet Muhammad Iqbal, also known as Allama Iqbal, members of the statutory body confirmed, NDTV reported quoting PTI.
Born in 1877 in Sialkot in undivided India, Iqbal wrote the famous song ‘Saare jahan se achcha. The chapter titled ‘Modern Indian Political Thought’ is part of BA’s sixth-semester paper. The matter will now be presented before the Executive Council of the university that will take the final call, officials were quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has welcomed the development.
“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,” said an Academic Council member.
A unit on Iqbal titled ‘Iqbal: Community’, part of the syllabus was reviewed by news agency PTI. There are 11 units as part of the course with the objective of studying important themes through individual thinkers.
Other thinkers that are also part of the course include Rammohan Roy, Pandita Ramabai, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhimrao Ambedkar. “The course has been designed to give students a glimpse into the richness and diversity within the Indian political thought,” the syllabus mentions. The course is aimed to equip students with a critical understanding of modern Indian thought, it adds.
“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,” it further stated.
Meanwhile, the ABVP welcomed the move, saying “fanatic theological scholar” Iqbal was responsible for India’s partition.
Mohammad Iqbal is called the ‘philosophical father of Pakistan’. He was the key player in establishing Jinnah as a leader in Muslim League. Mohammad Iqbal is as responsible for India’s partition as Mohammad Ali Jinnah is,” it added.
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