Talking on the recent removal of chapters on Allama Iqbal, the composer of ‘Saare jahan se achha,” Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh has aid that although he served the country by composing ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha,” but he never believed in it. Speaking on the removal of chapter on Allama Iqbal and the addition of chapter on Indian revolutionary Veer Savarkar in the Political Science syllabus, DU VC Yogesh Singh said to news agency ANI: “I don't know why we were teaching his (Muhammad Iqbal's) part in the syllabus for past 75 years. I agree that he served India by composing the popular song 'Sare Jahan Se Acha' but never believed in that."
Speaking further on the issue, Singh said that this shouldn’t be a controversy at all. The Political Science Department of the university decided to add an elective paper on Veer Savarkar, and this is a welcome move. The academic council has also approved it. He further added that under democracy, people may have varied perspectives and opinions on Veer Savarkar, but the academic council itself consists of 110 members. Out of these members, you can’t emphasize the opposing voices of 3-4 members, where 100 members and the political Science department think that Savarkar should be taught.
Savarkar has made a lot of sacrifices for the country, and such a person shouldn’t be dragged into unnecessary controversies and disputes, he further added. The initial proposal received by the academic council suggested that Mahatma Gandhi be taught in the 8th semester. However, the council has decided that there will be an optional paper on Mahatma Gandhi in the 4th semester, one on Ambedkar in the 5th, and then one on Savarkar in the sixth semester, he further underlined. He also noted that these papers will be optional in nature, and not compulsory. Only those candidates who wish to study these optional subjects will be taught these papers.
When topics like inclusivity and a space for all opinions are discussed inside campuses and academic spaces, why should the ideas and contributions of Savarkar be left out? Yogesh Singh underlined. Talking on Allama Iqbal, the DU VC said that Allama Iqbal never followed the idea of ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha,’ which he proposed. He played a crucial role in the formation of Pakistan and the division of India. He is more like the national poet of Pakistan, and has nothing to do with India. Instead of Iqbal, other Indian heroes should be taught as part of the academic syllabus.
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