The Department Affairs Committee at the University of Jammu has recommended removing topics on Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from the Political Science curriculum, following protests by student activists.
Committee’s Unanimous Decision
The Faculty/Departmental Affairs Committee convened on March 22 to review concerns about the syllabi for the one-year and two-year MA programs in Political Science, aligned with NEP-2020 guidelines. After detailed discussions, the committee unanimously proposed eliminating references to these figures from specific courses: PIPSTC 102 in the one-year program and P2PSTC 302 in the two-year program.
The Board of Studies will consider these recommendations during its online meeting scheduled for March 24 at 11:30 AM.
Student Protest Sparks Action
The move follows a demonstration by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday, targeting the inclusion of Jinnah in the ‘Minorities and the Nation’ section of the Political Science syllabus.
ABVP Jammu and Kashmir stated on X: “ABVP Jammu University protests against the inclusion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the Political Science syllabus under Minorities and the Nation. We demand an immediate rollback. Academic freedom cannot ignore national sentiments and historical integrity.”
Historical Context
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, leader of the Muslim League, served as Pakistan’s first Governor-General. The League’s Pakistan resolution at the 1940 Lahore session contributed to India’s partition in 1947. Syed Ahmad Khan founded Aligarh Muslim University, while Mohammad Iqbal was a prominent poet associated with Pakistan’s founding ideals.
