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Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
No references to Pakistan, Iqbal or Manusmriti in syllabi, Delhi University's Philosophy dept told
Faculty members of Delhi University's Department of Philosophy have been instructed to ensure that no references to Pakistan, philosopher and poet Muhammad Iqbal, or Manusmriti should be included in any undergraduate or postgraduate syllabi. The directive was issued in an email sent earlier this week, following instructions from the Dean of Academics, and the department has been asked to complete this review by June 16, it is learnt. The email states: 'There is an official instruction from the Dean of Academics (on June 12) to check that our UG Syllabi Semester 1-8 (NEP) as well as our PG Syllabi (NEP) Semesters 1 and 2 do not have any of the following items – either in the list of readings or in any of the unit contents: any reading of Manu, any reading of Muhammad Iqbal, any mention or content related to Pakistan.' Faculty members were asked to cross-check the content of each course and confirm by June 16 that none of the above items were included. 'To ensure full accuracy and responsibility… the course designers should be asked to ensure this with reference to each course,' the email further stated. 'The Dean of Academics has instructed us to do this within 3-4 days,' it added. Calls and messages to Dean of Academics K Ratnabali went unanswered. The Head of Department, Philosophy, Enakshi Ray Mitra, declined to comment. A university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'This was verbally communicated many times by the Vice-Chancellor himself — that anything that divides society will not be taught at Delhi University. Two years ago, readings about poet Iqbal were removed. Despite reiterating this, several departments are still introducing these topics into their syllabus proposals.' This is not the first time these texts and figures have come under scrutiny at the university. In 2023, the Academic Council (AC) approved the removal of a unit on Muhammad Iqbal from the BA (Hons) Political Science course titled 'Modern Indian Political Thought'. Iqbal, who authored Saare Jahan Se Achha, was later designated as the national poet of Pakistan. That same meeting saw the introduction of a new elective on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar for students pursuing the BA Programme with Political Science as a major. Last month, the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs recommended the removal of references to politically sensitive topics such as the Kashmir conflict and the Israel-Palestine issue from the Psychology syllabi, describing them as 'divisive' and lacking psychological relevance. The committee instead suggested greater focus on Indian thought, including the teachings of Buddha and Gandhi, as part of efforts to rebalance what it termed the 'over-representation of Western thinkers.' On June 12, V-C Yogesh Singh reiterated that Manusmriti would not be taught 'in any form' at DU after the text appeared in the reading list of a new Sanskrit undergraduate course. 'This direction has been issued even earlier by the Vice-Chancellor's office, and departments should adhere to it,' Singh had told The Indian Express. A similar proposal to include Manusmriti in the undergraduate History (Honours) syllabus was withdrawn in 2024 following protests. In the Philosophy department, The Indian Express has also learnt that a proposed Discipline Specific Elective course titled 'Bio Politics' has been dropped. The course had earlier been placed before the AC, with suggestions from the Standing Committee to revise its title. Eventually, the course was removed by the administration. A faculty member from the department said, 'The reason that was communicated to us was that this was more of a Political Science subject than a Philosophy subject. We first changed the name, but were later informed by the administration that this paper has been dropped.' 'Even though many professors in our department do not believe that this is a political paper. We thought it was important to retain it in the 7th semester, but there is no time to fight for it now,' the faculty member added. The Bio Politics course was designed to examine 'life as a site of both technological production and economic manipulation.' According to the official syllabus, it aimed to explore the relationship between life and politics through the writings of Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Negri, and Jacques Ranciere, situating these texts within 'the ideological context of liberalism and fascism'.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- ABC News
Father and son takes on Ironman Australia in Cairns after surviving cycling crash
Six years ago, Brayden and his father Travis McKenzie took his new bike out for its first spin. The pair took their usual 10-kilometre route around West Beach in Adelaide's western suburbs, but their ride took a tragic turn when an out-of-control van headed towards them. The driver of the van had experienced a medical episode, causing him to lose control. The van hit a pedestrian first, 44-year-old Muhammad Iqbal, who later died from the impact. Moments later, the van swerved to the other side of the road and collided with Brayden and his father, whose quick thinking saved his life. Travis also recalled the moment his fatherly instincts took over to care for his son, despite multiple broken bones in his body. "It all sort of happened in slowmo, so I can still see it as clear as day," Travis said. "Just heard the thud of the other pedestrian getting hit and the van coming towards us. "Then that thud of it hitting it and then sort of trying to pull yourself up to see what's going on and where Brayden was and getting myself across to him and evaluating sort of your own injuries, but I couldn't feel anything until I knew the sort of care for him." While they survived the crash, they sustained serious injuries. Brayden took six months off school with a fractured pelvis, concussion and extensive abrasions on the right side of his body. Travis took the brunt of the impact, requiring him to take 12 months off work. He underwent four operations on his back and his leg which was broken in four places. Brayden is grateful for his father's protection. "It changes your perspective, even just sitting in the car as you drive, riding on the road now six years on, it still crosses your mind." The accident marked the start of a journey of sorts for the pair. On the day they were both released from separate hospitals, Travis and Brayden made a secret pact — as soon as Brayden was old enough, they would take on the mammoth challenge of a full Ironman triathlon. "It's a commitment we made together to see through to the end," Travis said. "It gave us steps and challenges that we needed to get us where we need to. "It's given us a good six years to get to where we are, I guess to get through the trauma, the emotion, and just the physical strength to get to that start line together." Six years on from the accident and just 30 days after his 18th birthday, Brayden is now eligible to compete, making him the youngest participant for this weekend's Ironman Australia Triathlon in Cairns. The pair feel confident they can take on the challenge consisting of a 3.8 kilometre swim, 180km bike course and a complete 42.2km marathon. Travis had previously competed in eight Ironman events, but this will be his first since the accident. Preparations for the competition have intertwined with their recovery to overcome significant emotional and physical trauma, a process Brayden said has brought him closer to his dad. "Our relationship is really close, but this will definitely bring us even closer, the solid blocks of training we've put in together, long hours together has definitely brought us even closer," he said. Becoming Ironmen has been no small feat, with the extent of their injuries and the emotional toll taking 12 months before Brayden got back on the saddle and for Travis 18. For the father and son, it was never a question of if but when they would get back on the bike. "It's a passion of mine, it's a passion of dad's. I live and breathe it now. So it means the world to me," Brayden said. But it didn't come without its challenges. The pair hope their story will inspire others and spread a strong message on road safety. Brayden will take a week off school to travel to Cairns with his dad and their family, marking a very special milestone for a long road to recovery. "This is a goal in the distance that we've finally made it to so, it's nothing is too far on the horizon it's just taking it one day at a time and embracing the journey we're on," Brayden said. Travis agrees: "Anything is possible if you put your mind to it."
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi University panel suggests more syllabi tweaks
Delhi University's (DU) standing committee for academic affairs on Thursday recommended replacing Islamic poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and medieval traveller Ibn Battuta with Mughal prince Dara Shukoh in the History department's eighth semester syllabus. According to a committee member, the changes were proposed in a general elective paper, 'Life Narrative and History', which includes key political figures. Originally, the course featured Harsha, Battuta, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Iqbal. This was the third and final meeting of the committee reviewing seventh and eighth semester syllabi ahead of the first graduating batch under the four-year undergraduate programme. Committee members said the revisions align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. Other changes reportedly include dropping the elective paper 'Cultural Transactions between India and the World', and adding Dr BR Ambedkar alongside Karl Marx in the paper 'History of Labour in Colonial and Postcolonial India'. In political science, 'Hind Swaraj' was suggested as a new reading, while the topic of sexual division of labour and unpaid work may be removed from the paper 'Feminism: Theory and Practice', according to the committee member. The commerce department may see the removal of topics like social media marketing, rural development, and personal financial planning. Some faculty expressed concern over the scope of these revisions. 'The standing committee is meant to review—not restructure—department syllabi,' said Rajesh Jha, former executive council member. The final decision will rest with the academic council, which meets Saturday.
Shafaq News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
155 passengers rescued in Balochistan Train after attack
Shafaq News/ Pakistani security forces successfully rescued 155 hostages and eliminated 27 attackers in a high-risk operation following a brutal assault on a passenger train in Balochistan, security sources confirmed to local media outlets on Wednesday. The Jaffar Express, carrying around 450 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was ambushed on Tuesday. Armed militants from the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) detonated explosives on the tracks, forcing the train to stop before opening fire. The train remained stranded inside a tunnel near Sibbi for several hours, leaving passengers trapped under dire conditions. Authorities reported that the train's driver, who sustained injuries in the initial attack, later succumbed to his wounds. At least 37 people injured in the assault are currently receiving medical treatment. Major General Ahmed Sharif, a senior security official, described the rescue mission as 'one of the most challenging operations in recent years,' emphasizing the difficulties faced by forces navigating treacherous terrain while ensuring minimal harm to hostages. The BLA, which claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that it had taken more than 200 hostages, including security personnel. The group demanded the release of political prisoners and missing persons, threatening to execute captives if their demands were not met within 48 hours. Brigadier Muhammad Iqbal, a senior security source, denounced the insurgents, stating, 'We are dealing with a ruthless enemy that is using innocent civilians as human shields.' Imran Hayat, a railway official in Quetta, noted the calculated nature of the attack: 'The militants knew exactly where to strike. They stopped the train in a dead zone with no communication signals.' Passengers who endured the ordeal described the terror they faced as gunmen seized control of the train. 'They ordered us not to look back as they led families away,' recalled Ghulam Nabi, one of the freed hostages. 'We hid under the seats and prayed for our lives.' BLA's Escalating Insurgency The BLA, a separatist group opposed to Pakistani control over Balochistan's natural resources and Chinese investments in the region, has significantly intensified its attacks in recent months. A recent report by the Global Terrorism Index 2025 highlighted a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan last year, with the BLA responsible for a substantial portion of the violence. Security analyst Amir Rana explained, 'The BLA has evolved into a more coordinated and lethal force, targeting both security infrastructure and economic projects.' BLA militants have launched multiple deadly operations this year. In March, a female suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in Kalat, killing a security officer and injuring four others. In February, insurgents ambushed a paramilitary bus in the same district, killing 18 personnel. Days later, a roadside explosion killed 11 coal miners, while another attack struck a military convoy guarding a Chinese-operated mining project. Islamabad has accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of orchestrating many recent attacks, including the latest assault. The Pakistani government has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against anti-Pakistan fighters operating from its territory. However, Kabul has denied harbouring such groups, deepening tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
