New Delhi

The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in Uttar Pradesh has introduced Sanatana Dharma in the Department of Islamic Studies. The purpose of starting the course at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels is to make the students aware of the teachings of all major religions.

The Department of Islamic Studies has already started discussions with the Board of Studies and Academic Council of the University for making the syllabus for the course. This course is yet to be finalized.

Professor Mohammad Ismail of the Department of Islamic Studies said, "Now, a comparative religion course is being started in the department. Through this course, the students of graduation and postgraduate will be given the knowledge of Sanatana Dharma and other religions.” He expects the comparative study of religions course will be offered in the new session. Students of Sanatana Dharma will be told about Puranas, Vedas, Ramayana, Gita, and Manusmriti, Dr. Ismail said.

According to reports, the AMU has also withdrawn the writings of 20th-century Islamic authors Abul Ala al-Maududi and Sayyid Qutub from the syllabus of the Islamic Studies Department.

This was following complaints by 20 scholars about the content of these authors being ‘unpleasant.”

Some 20 academics had complained in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the content of the syllabus of AMU that promotes political Islam. Sources said acting on the concern the Academic council decided to discard these works from the syllabus.

Besides, other Indic religions like Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism will also be taught as part of the course.

AMU’s Department of Islamic Studies has students from different states of the country as well and abroad. There are more than 10 students from Iran, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Central Asia currently studying here. At the same time, there are more than 70,000 books in the department," he said.

In the Department of Islamic Studies, students from different states of the country as well as abroad take education. More than 10 students from Iran, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Central Asia are currently studying there. At the same time, there are more than 70,000 books in the department.

ALSO READ: Great enthusiasm for tricolour in central Kashmir: Darakshan Andrabi