If kids are taught about Marx, why not Hedgewar asks BJP, opposes Karnataka textbook revision

Former Revenue Minister R Ashoka has warned that the BJP would not sit quiet if changes in the syllabus are made according to the whims and fancies of Congress leaders.

Senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad claimed that Hedgewar admitted to writing 6 mercy petitions to the British. "We don't want to teach our children chapters on cowards. The Congress government will not approve the ideology of Sangh Parivar, the family of Hindu nationalist organisations such as RSS, will not be allowed to influence the functioning of any government department.

"No evidence is there to prove that Hedgewar was a freedom fighter. I refuse to respect individuals pretending to be freedom fighters... and who sought mercy from the British. Someone even referred to Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, as a freedom fighter," he said.

The previous BJP government had introduced a chapter on Hedgewar last year and made significant other changes to textbooks after setting up a committee headed by right-wing writer Rohit Chakrathirta. This was opposed by writers, academics and civil society groups across the state. After much criticism, the BJP had taken back some of the revisions, but around a handful of changes made still remain in the textbooks. It is these changes that the Congress wants to reverse. 

Former Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh said: "We made changes (in the textbooks) by taking these people into confidence. But they were hurt by these changes. We removed the lessons on Nehru and reduced the lessons on the glorification of Tipu Sultan. We brought such lessons that developed a feeling of nationalism among students," he stated.

Amid the warning of the BJP that it won't sit quiet over revision of syllabus, the Congress government has made it clear that it has already taken up the process of revision of textbooks.

Minister for Education Madhu Bangarappa stated on Thursday in Vidhana Soudha that during the ongoing academic year, the "unscientific and un-Constitutional content would be revised". 

"The previous BJP government had added objectionable content to the syllabus. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself is concerned about revision of those aspects," he said.

Many rounds of talks have taken place with academic experts.

"Authors and litterateurs have also given their opinions. The experts who are giving advice that the syllabus taught to children should be scientific and have social orientation are not connected to any political parties," minister Madhu Bangarappa stated.

Sign up to get Daily Wrap in your inbox

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name