DU Mulls Removing Chapter On Iqbal, Regarded As 'Philosophical Father Of Pakistan', From Political Science Syllabus

The Academic Council of Delhi University has passed a motion to remove a chapter on Pakistan's national poet Muhammad Iqbal from the political science syllabus.

Iqbal, born in 1877 in Sialkot, undivided India, is often credited with inspiring the idea of Pakistan.

The chapter in question, titled 'Modern Indian Political Thought,' is part of the BA's sixth-semester paper.

The matter will now be presented to the Executive Council for a final decision, according to the university officials cited by news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, calling Iqbal a "fanatic" and "philosophical father of Pakistan", the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) welcomed the development.

"DU students and ABVP appreciate the decision to scrap fanatic Mohd Iqbal from syllabus He is the 'philosophical father of Pakistan' and a fanatic arguer, played key role in establishing Jinnah as leader in Muslim League. Iqbal is as responsible for India's partition as Jinnah is," ABVP said in a tweet.

"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," an Academic Council member was quoted by PTI as saying.

The syllabus includes a unit on Iqbal titled 'Iqbal: Community'.

The course comprises eleven units, aiming to explore significant themes through the works of individual thinkers.

Other thinkers covered in the course include Rammohan Roy, Pandita Ramabai, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and Bhimrao Ambedkar.