Section of academics slam inclusion of Hedgewar lesson in textbook

The Karnataka government’s conclusion to include Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshava Balirama Hedgewar speech as a lesson in Class X Kannada textbook has been criticised by a section of teachers and activists, while Greater Instruction Minister B.C. Nagesh has strongly defended it.

The textbook, now getting printed, has the lesson titled ‘Nijavada Adarsha Purusha Yaraagabeku?’ (Who is the genuine purpose model?) centered on the speech of Hedgewar.

‘RSS is drive behind’

Developmental educationist V.P. Niranjanaradhya mentioned, “In the name of rationalisation of curriculum and correcting faults, the textbook revision committee in Karnataka has proposed quite a few irrational changes devoid of furnishing any pedagogical causes. Dependent on the tips, many subjects have been taken out from the textbooks of unique lessons. The RSS is the power at the rear of these changes and the institutions this sort of as the DSERT and the Textbook Directorate are being employed to tweak the textbooks.’‘

He stated that this was not shocking less than the BJP regime and its exertion to tweak the schooling program “to tune it to its variation of communal nationalism dependent on the Hindutva ideology”.

S.G. Siddaramaiah, author and former president of the Kannada Advancement Authority, argued that “saffronisation of schooling was in fact the core goal of the Countrywide Education and learning Plan 2020.” He alleged that the RSS agenda was being imposed on education via the NEP. “Overall modifications are in tune with the notion of nationalism and lifestyle that sectarian nationalists want to impose on the country,” he claimed. “These modifications have to have to be opposed by all aware citizens and we want to guarantee that our training is in tune with scientific and secular values respecting pluralism and multiculturalism of India nation state,” he claimed.

Why not, asks Minister

Nonetheless, Mr. Nagesh strongly defended the modifications in the textbook. “We formed an unbiased committee to revise all the university textbooks. The decisions have been taken by the committee independently. The Department of Community Instruction has by now confirmed that and there is no objectionable information. There is no material that hurts secular values,” said the Minister. He described Hedgewar as “a health practitioner who sacrificed his loved ones and own needs for the sake of the country”. He added that it was mainly because of personalities these types of as Hedgewar that “India has terrific leaders like Key Minister Narendra Modi and the previous Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”