AMU to remove Pakistani authors’ books from syllabus after academics write to PM Modi: Report

NEW DELHI: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has decided to remove the books of Pakistani authors Maulana Abul Ala Maududi and Syed Qutub from the syllabus. The decision comes after academics wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that books of these authors not be taught to students.

The open letter to PM Modi by academics stated that Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI) and Jamia Hamdard have “adopted, effectively, an anti-Indic/anti-national course curriculum”. These books are taught as part of the undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes in their Departments of Islamic Studies.

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However, according to AMU's Islamic Studies Department Head Professor Muhammad Ismail, "the board has decided to remove all books written by Pakistani authors from all curriculums, even though these books do not promote anything controversial and have been on the curriculum of AMU for a long time," the India Today reported.

The letter written by academician Madhu Kishwar along with other professors pointed out that Maulana Abul Ala Maududi “openly calls for genocide of non-Muslims everywhere in the world. The Indian subcontinent has been the worst victim of this brand of ongoing extremist ideology”.

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They further alleged that AMU, JMI and Jamia Hamdard were also encouraging their students to do PhDs on his thoughts, writings and influence.

“All these three institutions are trail blazers and role models for Islamic educational institutions all over India. Therefore, the direction they take lays down the ground rules for Islamic educational institutions all over India as well as muslim politics in our country,” it read. The open letter also cites anti-Hindu speech delivered by these authors and details of why they object to these books.