SRINAGAR: A Member of Parliament from Srinagar has voiced significant concern over reports indicating the removal of books pertaining to Kashmir’s history and identity from the University of Kashmir. The development coincides with a broader audit of educational institutions across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Times has learned that Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the Srinagar MP, expressed his disquiet through social media, emphasizing that academic environments should foster engagement with diverse historical perspectives and ideas, rather than restricting access to knowledge.
Mehdi stated on the social platform X, formerly Twitter, “The reports of books relating to Kashmir’s history and identity being removed from the University of Kashmir, alongside the ongoing audit of educational institutions, are deeply troubling. Libraries exist to preserve knowledge, not curate political narratives.” He further elaborated that the act of removing books does not alter historical facts, but instead diminishes scholarly discourse.
“Erasing books does not erase history; it only impoverishes scholarship. A society that fears ideas ultimately fears the truth. Academic freedom and the right to engage with history must never become casualties of ideological control,” Mehdi added, underscoring the importance of intellectual freedom in educational settings.
These concerns arise in the wake of an order issued by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The Lieutenant Governor mandated a comprehensive audit of all educational institutions within Jammu and Kashmir. This directive followed a controversy surrounding the presence of literature alleged to contain “anti-national and separatist” content in various educational establishments.
Authorities have been instructed by the administration to implement a system ensuring that no books, journals, magazines, or other publications deemed to carry such objectionable content are procured, distributed, or made available within universities, colleges, schools, and libraries across the Union Territory.
Heads of institutions have been directed to meticulously review the existing academic material and guarantee compliance with the new directives. Furthermore, the administration has called for the establishment of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) specifically designed for the screening of academic resources to prevent the circulation of materials deemed inappropriate.
The audit aims to ensure that educational content aligns with national values and narratives, as perceived by the administration. The process is expected to involve a thorough review of existing collections and the implementation of stricter procurement guidelines for future acquisitions. The emphasis is on maintaining an academic environment that is conducive to national integrity and stability.
This move by the administration highlights a growing focus on the content available within educational institutions in the region. The government’s stated objective is to safeguard the intellectual development of students by ensuring access to literature that promotes a constructive and nationally aligned perspective, while simultaneously removing materials that could be interpreted as divisive or detrimental to public order.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
