In a move that has ignited a nationwide controversy, Delhi University has made the decision to remove a crucial chapter about Allama Iqbal from its political science textbooks. This decision was made during a heated discussion at the university’s Academic Council meeting, leaving many shocked and divided.
According to reports from Indian news organization ANI, the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Yogesh Singh, justified the removal by stating that those who advocated for the division of India should not be taught to students. He argued, “Iqbal wrote songs supporting the ‘Muslim League’ and the ‘Pakistan Movement’. Iqbal was the first to raise the idea of the partition of India and the establishment of Pakistan, and said that instead of teaching about such people, we should study our national heroes.”
The chapter on Allama Iqbal was part of the syllabus for the Political Science program and was included in the BA’s sixth-semester paper titled ‘Modern Indian Political Thought’. Allama Iqbal, often referred to as the ‘philosophical father of Pakistan’, played a significant role in establishing Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a leader in the Muslim League. Critics argue that he shares responsibility for the partition of India, just like Jinnah.
This decision by Delhi University has sparked a heated national debate on the importance of historical figures and their influence on the political landscape. Supporters of Allama Iqbal argue that erasing his legacy from the textbooks is a denial of historical truth, while others believe it is a step towards prioritizing the nation’s heroes.