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No Chapter on Savarkar, Hedgewar: Karnataka Govt Orders Revision in Content of Class 6, 10 Textbooks

In the wake of the recent approval by the Cabinet to revise classroom textbooks, the Karnataka government has taken action to amend the content of Kannada and social science textbooks for Classes 6 and 10.
By Jitendra Jangid Jun 19, 2023, 14:04 IST
Days after the Cabinet approval to revise classroom textbooks, the Karnataka government has ordered revision in content of Kannada and social science textbooks of Classes 6 and 10 with 18 major changes, including the removal of contentious chapters on RSS founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. Several other chapters such as ‘Shreshta Bharatiya Chintanegalu’ by Shatavadhani R Ganesh has been replaced by Sara Aboobacker’s ‘Yudha’, ‘Bhookailasa’ — a mythological drama written by Parampalli Narasimha replaced with Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Letter to My Daughter’. A chapter written by right-wing ideologue Chakravarthy Sulibele has been dropped. Several other lessons and poems on BR Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule have been added to the text. In social science, lessons on ‘Culture of Vedic Period’, ‘Rise of New Religions’ have been added along with Wadiyar kings of Mysore and their Diwans. An essay on regionalism, which was shown as a threat to the idea of national unity, has been removed from the textbook. The essay had pointed out how linguistic fanaticism that leads to regionalism was against the idea of nationalism and how it hampered the unity of a nation by citing the split of Andhra Pradesh. Most of the lessons, which were included during the Congress rule in 2013-2018 by a committee headed by writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa, have been added again. The decision to roll back the changes made in the textbook syllabus during BJP’s tenure was one of the promises made by the Congress in the run-up to the state elections. Soon after the writers and thinkers met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Congress government had formed an interim committee headed by notable thinker Baraguru Ramachandrappa to analyse the syllabus and provide a report on the necessary changes that had to be made. The committee will then implement the necessary changes. As the academic year has already begun the government will be providing a supplementary booklet to students which comprises the necessary changes. The printing of these booklets would cost around 10-12 lakhs and would be provided to students with 6-10days as claimed by the Education minister of the state. Speaking after the cabinet meeting that took place a couple of days ago where a decision on textbook revision was made, education minister Madhu Bangarappa laid down the details. “As per our commitment in our manifesto and in the interest of students, there will be changes in chapters. For one month, there will be no main subjects taught. So what we have thought is to give a supplementary booklet with all the changes for one month. Within less than 10 days, it will reach all the schools. Now, my task is to print it at earliest and deliver it to schools. “Complementary booklet will be only for this academic year. For next year onwards, to change the thinking process, and for better studies, we will create a technical team to work on planning for next academic now only,” said the education minister.

In the wake of the recent approval by the Cabinet to revise classroom textbooks, the Karnataka government has taken action to amend the content of Kannada and social science textbooks for Classes 6 and 10. This revision encompasses 18 significant changes, including the removal of controversial chapters concerning RSS founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. Additionally, several other chapters have been substituted, such as Shatavadhani R Ganesh's "Shreshta Bharatiya Chintanegalu" with Sara Aboobacker's "Yudha," and Parampalli Narasimha's mythological drama "Bhookailasa" with Jawaharlal Nehru's "Letter to My Daughter." A chapter authored by right-wing ideologue Chakravarthy Sulibele has been omitted.

Furthermore, numerous lessons and poems focusing on BR Ambedkar and Savitribai Phule have been included in the textbooks. In the realm of social science, lessons on the "Culture of Vedic Period" and the "Rise of New Religions" have been added, along with information about the Wadiyar kings of Mysore and their Diwans. A previously included essay on regionalism, which depicted it as a threat to national unity, has been eliminated. This essay had highlighted how linguistic fanaticism leading to regionalism contradicted the concept of nationalism and hindered national unity by citing the example of the Andhra Pradesh split.

Most of the lessons that were initially introduced during the Congress rule from 2013 to 2018, under the guidance of writer Baraguru Ramachandrappa and his committee, have been reinstated. The decision to revert the changes made to the textbook syllabus during the tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a promise made by the Congress party in the lead-up to the state elections. Following a meeting between writers, thinkers, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Congress government established an interim committee led by esteemed thinker Baraguru Ramachandrappa. This committee was tasked with analyzing the syllabus and providing a report outlining the necessary modifications. Subsequently, the committee will oversee the implementation of these changes.

Since the academic year has already commenced, the government plans to provide students with a supplementary booklet containing the necessary revisions. The printing of these booklets is estimated to cost around 10-12 lakhs, and they are expected to be distributed to students within 6-10 days, as confirmed by the state's Education Minister.

Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, speaking after the recent cabinet meeting where the decision to revise the textbooks was made, provided further insights into the process. "In line with our commitment outlined in our manifesto and in the best interest of students, we will be making changes to certain chapters. For one month, the main subjects will not be taught. Therefore, we have decided to provide a supplementary booklet containing all the changes for this one-month period. It will be delivered to all schools within less than 10 days. My immediate task is to ensure its prompt printing and distribution to schools. The complementary booklet will only be used for the current academic year. Starting from next year, in order to foster critical thinking and facilitate enhanced studies, we will establish a technical team to plan for the upcoming academic years from now itself," stated the Education Minister.

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