SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has assured the public that the chapter on the revered Kashmiri saint Sheikh-ul-Alam will not be removed from the Class IX English textbook. Taking to Twitter, Abdullah responded to concerns raised about the alleged deletion, stating, “I assure Tarigami Sahab that there will be no deletion of the chapter. The matter has already been taken up by Sakina Itoo Sahiba as soon as this was brought to the attention of the government.”
The assurance came after CPI(M) leader MY Tarigami highlighted the issue in a tweet, expressing his dismay at what he termed an unacceptable move. “It is deeply troubling that an entire chapter on the revered Sufi saint Sheikh-ul-Alam has been dropped from the Class IX textbook. This blue-pencilling carried out before the Assembly polls, is unacceptable to a society rooted in rich Sufi traditions,” he wrote. Tarigami urged Abdullah to intervene, stressing the need to preserve the region’s cultural and Sufi heritage.
Senior National Conference leader Tanvir Sadiq also weighed in on the matter, affirming that Sheikh-ul-Alam’s teachings would remain an integral part of the curriculum. Speaking to reporters, Sadiq said, “Sheikh-ul-Alam has been a big spiritual leader. We can’t remove any of his chapters from textbooks.” He added that any errors or misprints in the PDF version of the textbooks would be promptly corrected.
Sheikh-ul-Alam, also known as Nund Rishi, holds a significant place in Kashmiri history as the founder of the Rishi movement. His poetry and teachings, which promote universal brotherhood, spirituality, and environmental awareness, are considered central to the region’s identity and values.
The controversy has drawn attention to the importance of safeguarding academic content that reflects Jammu and Kashmir’s rich heritage. With assurances from the government and political leaders, efforts are underway to ensure the integrity of the curriculum remains intact.
