Questions on Taj Mahal, Quran in BHU exam
VARANASI: Where is the Taj Mahal? Even a class 4 or 5 student is likely to answer this question with ease. But this simple query was part of the MA third semester (second year) history question paper at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
This question was asked in the history question paper on society, culture and religion in medieval India.
Another question paper on the history of medieval Indian historiography and sources (MA third semester) had the query: What is the Quran?
Prof Tabir Kalam, who teaches the subject, said, “In this paper, we teach students about the influence of Arabic and Persian historiography on medieval Indian historiography. Main sources of Arab historiography are the Quran and Hadith.
Hadith is the best example of history writing because when the scholars started compilation of Hadith, they enquired and scrutinised the content and sources and the person responsible for bringing the information to the compilers. And then the Hadith was considered reliable. In history, we also do the same thing.”
“Therefore, the Quran and Hadith, Izma, Qayas and Islamic sources are part of the syllabus of medieval Indian historiography,” Kalam added. The examination was held last month.
The BHU has also asked history students about Alauddin Khilji, Rani Padmavati and the jauhar tradition. The MA political students were asked about Kautilya’s GST, Manu as first Indian thinker on globalisation, the BJP, AAP, Swachh Bharat and smart city. Professor Rajiv Srivastava, who teaches society, culture and religion in medieval India, describes the questions as very logical.
“Architecture of different monuments constructed during the medieval period is part of the syllabus of medieval history. We teach students about different aspects of the architecture of these monuments.”
Those raising questions over the question paper have no idea about the syllabus.
The Jauhar tradition, Rani Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji were also part of the syllabus. A question was framed on the Taj Mahal as its architecture was great and each student should know about it, Srivastava said.
The question (on the Taj Mahal) was an objective-type one and carried two marks, prof Srivastava said, adding that the query was from the syllabus. He clarified that he didn’t set the paper but taught these subjects.
Hitting about at critics, Srivastava asked:“Will hardliners and people supporting a special ideology now teach professors what to teach in the classroom and what should be the topics of question papers?”
Rajesh Kumar Singh, the BHU public relations officer, said, “Professors are experts of their subjects. As far as the GST is concerned, professors in few departments have started teaching the new tax regime from this session. As far as I know, other topics around which questions were framed would be part of the curriculum. Professors of are experts in their subjects, they can say it better.”