Govt criticised over removal of chapter on revered Sufi saint from class 9 textbook

Srinagar, Dec 18: The Jammu and Kashmir government has come under fire from politicians following the Board of School Education’s (BOSE) decision to exclude a chapter on revered Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din (RA) from the Class 9 curriculum.

However, a top official of the BOSE has defended the move, saying the topic is already covered in other textbooks.

Former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu took to X to express his concern over the move.

"A new accomplishment by the new NC Government. The Chapter of Prose by Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (RA) removed from the J&K Board English Textbook for Class 9th. And these people will fight for our Tashakhus," Junaid Azim Mattu wrote on his X handle.

Former deputy Mayor of SMC, Sheikh Imran said the removal of chapter on Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (RA) from the Class 9 ‘Tulip Series’ 2023 textbook was a direct assault on Kashmir’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

"This brazen erasure under the JKNC government demands immediate accountability, and the Chief Minister must respond. Omar Abdullah Sahib, how many more betrayals are the people of Kashmir expected to endure? We are exhausted and haunted by these repeated acts of disregard. Your tenure—however brief it may be—remains etched as a dark chapter of hopelessness and disillusionment," Sheikh Imran wrote on his X handle.

"Is the Education Department with you or not? Or are they still deciding mid-step-because, Omar Abdullah Sahib, your backtracking skills could probably win gold at the - Reverse Olympics," he asked.

A top official in the School Education Department (SED) told Greater Kashmir that any changes made in the textbook are approved by the Director Academics.

"The board has a team of subject experts for every subject and they suggest changes in terms of addition or deletion of any chapter in any textbook. The suggestions are submitted to Director Academics for approval," the official told Greater Kashmir.

Director Academics, JKBOSE, Dr. Sudhir Singh who is the concerned authority over the issue said the same topic was covered in other textbooks.

"This topic is covered in other books viz English Literature, SST Kashmiri, Urdu," the director Academics JKBOSE told Greater Kashmir.