'Remove textbooks chapters on saffronisation'

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Since the Cong ress government assumed power in Karnataka, a group of academicians has been advocating the removal of specific chapters that were included by the previous BJP government based on the recommendations of the then chairman of the textbook review committee, Rohith Chakrathirtha.

Niranjan Aradhya, an academician and activist, recently met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to present a letter outlining various demands, which included the removal of certain chapters added by the previous government.

"Given that 98.21 percent of the textbooks for this year have already been printed, we are urging the removal of chapters such as those on Hedgewar and a chapter written by Chakravarti Sulibele. We are also requesting that these chapters not be considered for evaluation. These chapters attempted to instil hatred in the minds of children. Additionally, we have asked the CM to revert to the same chapters that were present in the 2017-18 textbooks," stated Niranjan Aradhya.

Aradhya further highlighted that several freedom fighters felt insulted when chapters about their work were removed from the textbooks last year. The previous textbook review committee, chaired by Rohith Chakrathirtha, introduced multiple chapters that were criticised by the Opposition as being reflective of a 'saffronisation' agenda in the textbooks.

Addressing the matter on May 23, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that he would seek approval from the cabinet before making any changes to the textbooks. The chapter on KB Hedgewar was added to the 10th standard Kannada textbook, while the chapter on Chakravarti Sulibele found its way into the 10th standard textbooks as well. Academicians led by Niranjan Aradhya have demanded removal of these chapters from the textbooks