Newly appointed Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah (right). The Congress had made its intention clear to replace some of the controversial legislations of its predecessor. (PTI)
Last year, there was huge controversy in the state after the BJP government revised textbooks and added RSS founder Hedgewar’s speech to the Class X syllabus. Murthy Rao’s ‘Vyaghragithe’ and Sara Abubakar’s ‘Yudh’
A group of educationists and school associations have asked the new Karnataka government to drop the changes made to the state syllabus textbooks by the previous BJP government, while the Congress is making its intentions clear about changing some of its predecessor’s controversial laws.
Professor VP Niranjan Aaradhya, Head of Universalization of Education at the National Law School of India (NLSI) University in Bengaluru, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and said: “About 98 per cent newly printed textbooks for the academic year 2023 have already been distributed .-24, Important chapters which have been changed may be omitted from teaching and evaluation.”
Last year, there was huge controversy in the state after the BJP government revised textbooks and added Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar’s speech to the Class X syllabus. The revised textbooks also removed the works of litterateurs like P Lankesh. ‘Mriga Mattu Sundari’, AN Murthy Rao’s ‘Vyaghrageethe’ and Sara Abubakar’s ‘Yudh’. The revision committee, headed by Rohit Chakratheertha, also removed the works of Mudanakudu Chinnaswamy and HS Sivaprakash. Opposing this move, the Congress termed it as saffronisation of education.
Decision after cabinet formation
Responding to the demand, Minister G Parameshwara said that a decision can be taken only after the formation of a full cabinet and allocation of portfolios. “The decision cannot be taken on the basis of statements. A cabinet will have to be formed and the concerned minister will have to study the matter before coming to the cabinet for approval,” said the former deputy CM.
Meanwhile, Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said the Congress would review all orders and bills passed by the previous government. “Whether it is revision of textbooks, anti-conversion or cow slaughter, all bills and orders will be reviewed, especially those that do not contribute to Karnataka’s development,” the minister said.
The government is firm on review of any bill passed by the previous BJP government that: – Affects the image of the state – Stops investment – Does not generate employment – Is unconstitutional – Violates the rights of an individual We economic and social want to build a homogeneous karnataka
– Priyank Kharge (@PriyankKharge) May 24, 2023
The school association has also made a similar demand. Recognized Unaided Private Schools Association (RUPSA) president H Lokesh Talikatte also requested Siddaramaiah not to incorporate the amendments in the textbooks, saying it would have a negative impact on the minds of students.
“This government should not consider all the material added by the previous government. It should not be part of the evaluation process. Only the curriculum that already existed should be considered and taught. This is RUPSA’s demand as targeting a particular community has a negative impact on the minds of young children.
With the previous textbook revision committee disbanded, the new government will have to form a committee and give it enough time to review the syllabus, a task that cannot be accomplished before the academic year starts soon. It will be interesting to see whether the Congress government in the state intends to take any interim measures to undo the changes implemented by the previous government.
