'Saare Jahan Se Achha' written by Poet Muhammad Iqbal scrapped from DU political science syllabus

Delhi University's Academic Council has passed a motion to remove a chapter on Pakistan's national poet Muhammad Iqbal from the political science syllabus. Muhammad Iqbal wrote the famous patriotic song "Saare Jahan Se Achha".

Often credited with giving birth to the idea of Pakistan, Muhammad Allama Iqbal was born in 1877 in undivided India. Officials said that the chapter titled 'Modern Indian Political Thought' was a part of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) sixth-semester paper.

The decision was taken during the discussion on the undergraduate course in the 1014th Academic Council meeting of University of Delhi. Vice Chancellor Professor Yogesh Singh said "those who laid the foundation to break India should not be in the syllabus".

The Vice Chancellor's proposal was unanimously passed by the House. In



the meeting, the resolution for the syllabus of the fourth, fifth and sixth semesters of various courses under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF) 2022 was passed. On this occasion, the Vice Chancellor also emphasised teaching Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and others.

"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.

This was a suggestion from the standing committee that has been approved by the academic council by the Delhi University VC.

The council also approved proposals to set up new centres for Partition Studies, Hindu Studies, and Tribal Studies. However, five council members opposed the proposal on Partition Studies and said it was “divisive".