How Allama Iqbal's poem got a school principal in India suspended

By Team CG
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December 23, 2022
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A school principal was suspended for his students reciting Allama Iqbal's famous poem, 'Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua'.

The well-known poem, often referred to as 'A Student's Prayer', and also known as 'Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Banke Tamanna Meri', was written by Allama Iqbal in 1902. All private and public schools in Pakistan use this poem in their morning assemblies.

However, this poem has caused a new controversy in the Indian school system. In India, a school principal was suspended after students read the renowned poem by Iqbal.

The Indian media reported that the Muslim principal, Nahid, was suspended for reciting Allama Iqbal's ‘dua’ during a student assembly at a school in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

Police officials say Hindu extremists filed a report against the school principal after watching the children recite 'Mere Allah burai se bachana mujhko' in the assembly video. It is apparently not part of the 'approved curriculum'.

As a result of the state's education department siding with Hindu extremists, the principal has been suspended and is currently under investigation.

A school principal in Pilibhit city was also suspended for reciting this poem earlier in 2019.