'Need autonomous body to write textbooks'

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: There should be an autonomous body for the preparation of textbooks. There should be no interference from anyone in this, said senior litterateur Devanuru Mahadeva.

"Last time there were no academicians in the textbook drafting committee. So the textbooks constituted by that committee have already been distributed," Devanuru Mahadeva said, adding that a circular should be issued not to consider the texts which have been distributed by the government and which are against the spirit of the Constitution.

He said that within six months, a textbook advisory committee consisting of suitable experts should be constituted and the shortcomings should be rectified so that there is no shortage of appropriate texts. Devanuru Mahadeva had written to the previous government asking it not to teach his lessons in the textbook drafting committee formed in the previous government or drop it from the textbook.

"But now that the government has changed, the writers should meet the Chief Minister, abolish the earlier textbook drafting committee and remove the texts which are against the spirit of the Constitution that they have adopted," the litterateur said . He also called for constituting an autonomous textbook committee.