JAMMU: The University of Jammu in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is considering removing references to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, and Syed Ahmad Khan from its Master’s in Political Science syllabus.
The move follows student protests against a chapter on Jinnah’s political thought, which critics say portrays him as a leader of minorities in India.
The proposal, put forward by a panel led by Professor Naresh Padha of the physics department, has been sent to the university’s Board of Studies for review.
The ABVP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), led the protests on campus. ABVP state secretary Sannak Shrivats argued that the inclusion of Jinnah was inappropriate.
Meanwhile, Baljit Singh Mann, head of the political science department, defended the syllabus, noting it aligns with norms followed by universities across India and by the University Grants Commission, emphasizing that the goal is to present diverse viewpoints rather than promote any ideology.
The Board of Studies is expected to decide on the matter soon.
