Jammu University Committee Proposes Removal of Jinnah and Others from Political Science Syllabus

A committee at the University of Jammu has recommended the removal of references to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Syed Ahmad Khan, and Mohammad Iqbal from the MA Political Science syllabus. This decision follows protests by the ABVP, which argues that Jinnah's portrayal in the curriculum is inappropriate. The Board of Studies is set to discuss this recommendation soon. Baljit Singh Mann, head of the Political Science Department, defends the inclusion of these figures as consistent with national academic standards. The situation has ignited a debate about educational content and ideological representation in universities.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 23, 2026, 15:04 IST

Proposed Changes to the Syllabus

A committee established by the University of Jammu has suggested that references to former Pakistani president Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Muslim reformer Syed Ahmad Khan, and poet Mohammad Iqbal be eliminated from the MA Political Science curriculum. This recommendation was reported on Monday.

The proposal has been sent to the Board of Studies, which is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to deliberate on the issue.

Led by Professor Naresh Padha from the Physics Department, the committee was formed following protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against the inclusion of Jinnah's political ideas in the syllabus.

The ABVP, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the ideological foundation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has been vocal about this matter.

Sannak Shrivats, the ABVP's J&K State Secretary, who spearheaded the protests, noted that Jinnah was previously mentioned in a chapter discussing the 'two-nation theory.' However, in the updated syllabus, he is featured in a chapter titled 'Minorities and the Nations.'

Shrivats expressed concerns that Jinnah was depicted as a representative of minorities in India.

Baljit Singh Mann, head of the Political Science Department at Jammu University, defended the inclusion of Jinnah and other thinkers, stating that it aligns with the curricula of universities across the country and adheres to the guidelines set by the University Grants Commission.

He further remarked that the controversy surrounding this issue is unwarranted, emphasizing that the university aims to present a variety of perspectives to foster critical thinking.