In a move widely criticised as being prejudiced against Pakistan’s national poet, the executive body of the Delhi University has approved a motion to remove a chapter about Muhammad Iqbal from the political science syllabus at their BA level. The chapter titled “Modern Indian Political Thought” featured a unit about Iqbal, the famous poet behind the renowned song “Sare Jahan Se Acha”. The final decision is yet to be taken by the University’s executive council on May 9.
One of the members of the academic council confirmed the removal of Iqbal’s chapter from the book. He said that it was decided to remove the unit about Iqbal who is credited with giving birth to the idea of Pakistan.
The move has sparked outrage among many political observers who are calling out the university for its prejudiced stance. The university has yet to release a statement regarding the removal of Iqbal’s chapter from the syllabus but it clearly shows that a political element was at work behind closed doors.
The Delhi University is one of the most acclaimed universities in the country and is reputed for its quality education. It has twelve departments, 4 faculties and 80+ colleges affiliated to it, making it an esteemed institution for knowledge seekers. The university has provided unparalleled quality of education to over 1.5 million students since its inception in 1922. It has provided a pathway of success for many notable personalities like Amartya Sen, Arun Jaitley, and Arvind Kejriwal.
The person mentioned in this article is Muhammad Iqbal. He was an Indian poet, philosopher, and politician who is widely regarded as having inspired the Pakistan Movement. He is most famous for writing the poem “Sare Jahan Se Acha” and advocating the idea of a separate homeland for Muslims in the subcontinent. He is credited with modernizing Urdu and Persian literature and has been posthumously awarded the highest civilian awards in India and Pakistan. He is also recognized as one of the most influential Indian political thinkers and is considered the National poet of Pakistan.
