NEW DELHI, 19 August 2006 — Agitated legislators were on their feet in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) yesterday over alleged distortions in school textbooks prepared by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), controlled by the government department of education.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Ravi Shanker Prasad (Bharatiya Janata Party) said that NCERT textbooks, published this year in May, described several freedom fighters as “terrorists.” Cutting across party lines, legislators voiced grave concern over freedom fighters, including Balgangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra Pal — allegedly labeled as “terrorists” in NCERT textbooks. Waving copies of NCERT textbooks, BJP members also pointed out to these describing the Jat community as “marauders” and containing tips for girl students on using cosmetics.
Describing distortion of history as a very “serious” issue, which could pollute minds of young children, agitated members demanded an inquiry into such writings and punishment of the guilty. Expressing support to them, members from Congress, left and Samajwadi Party (SP) said that the issue should not be politicized. The government should take the matter seriously and correct distortions, they said.
Agitated BJP members also trooped into the well at a point to place copies of the textbooks on the table of the house. Despite the chair asking them not to do as the rules did not permit this, the legislators placed the copies on the table.
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi demanded an explanation from Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh on the issue. If the allegations are true, the government should look into it, Satyavrat Chaturvedi (Congress) said.
Asserting that there was no politics in the matter, Amar Singh (SP) said that history should not be tampered with.
Describing the issue as “very serious,” Sitaram Yechury (Communist Party of India-Marxist) said that allegations should be looked into. If they were true, an inquiry should be ordered and action should be take against the guilty.
