Latest news with #AzadiKeBaadKaSwarnimBharat
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
RBSE to govt: Review syllabus before new term
Jaipur: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) has written to the state govt to review all books that are part of the curriculum and suggest changes well before the start of the next academic session. This action follows days after state education minister Madan Dilawar announced that a supplementary textbook for classes 11-12, 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat', will not be taught in schools due to its alleged focus on the Nehru-Gandhi family's contribution to India's development. Officials said that books are usually reviewed after a change of govt in the state. However, this time, after the minister announced the scrapping of two books, the Board wrote to the state govt to form a committee of experts to review the books. RBSE Secretary Kailash Sharma said that from classes 9-12, the Board has 71 books for different subjects, along with NCERT books, which serve as additional readings or workbooks and have not been reviewed in a long time. "71 books for different language subjects for classes 9-12 are prepared by RBSE after approval from the state govt. For such books, a committee is set up by the state govt for review or to create a new book. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ada jeragat, terus nampak tua! Minum ni je, beli kat Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Undo We have requested that these existing books should either be sent to the existing syllabus review committee or a new committee should be formed for the review," Sharma said. The books prepared by RBSE include those for Hindi, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Sanskrit, which cover both literature and grammar. Officials said that as part of the review, the contents, especially those in the literature section, can be checked. On Friday, the state govt removed Dinesh Kumar Ojha, senior assistant director of RBSE, from his post following a controversy surrounding class 11-12 textbooks titled 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat'. The issue allegedly relates to not giving enough space to PM Narendra Modi's achievements. Ojha, who was allegedly responsible for textbook selection and was working on deputation at RBSE, has been placed on awaiting posting order (APO) and asked to report to the education directorate in Bikaner.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
RBSE textbookcontroversy: Srofficial removed
Ajmer: The state govt Friday removed Dinesh Kumar Ojha, senior assistant director of the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE), from his post following a controversy surrounding class 11-12 textbooks titled 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat'. The issue allegedly relates to not giving enough space to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements. Ojha, who was allegedly responsible for textbook selection and was working on deputation at RBSE, has been placed on awaiting posting order (APO) and asked to report to the education directorate in Bikaner. RBSE secretary Kailash Chand Sharma confirmed the development. tnn
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Poison': Rajasthan govt pulls class 11–12 textbooks over 'Gandhi family overdose', says icons like Shastri, Patel, Ambedkar missing
Rajasthan's Education Minister Madan Dilawar has announced the withdrawal of the supplementary textbook Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat for Classes 11 and 12, alleging that it gives undue emphasis to the Gandhi family while ignoring other national leaders. The two-part book, which has been used in schools for over 20 years, was revised in 2015 and 2019, and serves as non-evaluative reading material for students. According to Dilawar, the book highlights the contributions of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, but neglects other prominent figures such as Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, BR Ambedkar, and BJP leaders like Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Vasundhara Raje. The minister claimed that the book gives the impression that only the Gandhi family played a role in India's progress, which he called 'misleading and disrespectful.' He also pointed out that the book fails to include recent national developments like the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, an event he considers crucial for India's unity and security. Although the textbook was updated in 2019, it only mentions Prime Minister Narendra Modi in five paragraphs and does not include any of his photographs. The text highlights major policy changes like the Swachh Bharat Mission, GST, demonetisation, and the formation of NITI Aayog. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cloud security in action: customer success stories with Orca Security CIO | AWS Learn More Undo Committee formed, but little progress After the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma came to power in 2023, a syllabus review was initiated in November 2024. A nine-member panel headed by Prof Kailash Sodani of Vardhman Mahaveer Open University was formed for textbook revision. However, the committee has met only once so far. Despite the book being distributed to 80% of government schools for the current academic year, Dilawar stood by the decision to withdraw it. 'Just because poison is bought doesn't mean it must be consumed,' he said, adding that incomplete or biased content should not be taught in schools. Live Events Political backlash over textbook row The move has triggered political criticism. Chief of the Pradesh Congress Committee Govind Singh Dotasra accused the state government of trying to impose an RSS-backed ideology through education. He argued that the curriculum, revised in 2020, was inclusive and mentioned contributions from various political leaders including Morarji Desai, Manmohan Singh, Indira Gandhi, and Modi. He also slammed the minister for focusing on Modi-centric content, calling it 'dictatorial,' and promised to raise the matter with the Chief Minister's Office. According to Dotasra, the government should focus on education, not politics. Authors defend the textbook Prof Om Prakash Mahla, one of the authors of the book, defended its content. Speaking to TOI, he said the book was prepared without political bias and covered national achievements under various governments, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Pokhran nuclear tests. He maintained that the goal was to provide a balanced overview of India's post-independence journey to young learners. Syllabus revision The syllabus revision process is expected to continue, and a new version of the textbook may be issued next academic year. The controversy has reignited the debate over political influence in school education, with stakeholders demanding transparency and inclusivity in curriculum development. Inputs from TOI
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Raj scraps textbook over ‘Gandhi family focus', sparks curriculum controversy
1 2 3 4 Jaipur: Rajasthan's Education minister Madan Dilawar announced Thursday the withdrawal of the supplementary textbook 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat' for Classes 11-12, citing its emphasis on the Gandhi family's contributions. The two-part book which has been in circulation for over two decades, was revised in 2015 and 2019, and serves as non-evaluative reading material. Following the formation of the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP govt in 2023, a syllabus overhaul was ordered in Nov 2024, including the textbook's content. A nine-member committee, chaired by Prof Kailash Sodani of Vardhman Mahaveer Open University, Kota, was tasked with the revision, but the panel has since met only once. Dilawar criticized the supplementary textbook for omitting contributions of leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, BR Ambedkar, and BJP stalwarts Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Vasundhara Raje, while highlighting the Gandhi family. While the book has several references to former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, along with their pictures, former PM Rajiv Gandhi and Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi also finds space in the books. "These books suggest only the Gandhi family contributed to India's development, which is wrong and disrespectful," he said. He also underscored the need to update the curriculum to reflect current educational standards, particularly emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's achievements, such as the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The textbook currently mentions Modi in five paragraphs, highlighting policies like the Swachh Bharat Mission, demonetization, GST, and the replacement of the Planning Commission with NITI Aayog as the govt's key achievements. Despite it's revision in 2015, however, the books have no photographs of the current PM. The decision follows the distribution of the textbook to 80% of govt schools for the current academic year. Dilawar dismissed concerns about wasted funds. "Just because poison is bought doesn't mean it must be consumed. We cannot teach incomplete information," he said, claiming the absence of Article 370's abrogation in the book implies "supporting terrorists," even though the 2019 revision predated the event. The textbook covers pre-independence milestones, including the Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India movements, the Kakori case, and the Gandhi Era (1920-1947). It also details schemes like MNREGA, Right to Education, Aadhaar, RTI, and the Green and White Revolutions under Shastri's leadership. Prof Om Prakash Mahla, a co-author, defended the book, saying it was written without bias to document national progress, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Pokhran nuclear tests. "Our attempt was to compile all facts so that young minds can get knowledge, irrespective of which govt was in charge. It is not just that developments under the Congress regime are mentioned; the book also talks about developments under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, like the Pokhran Nuclear tests," Prof Mahla told TOI. The move to rewrite the textbooks, meanwhile, has sparked a political controversy with Pradesh Congress Committee chief Govind Singh Dotasra accusing the BJP govt of imposing an RSS-driven narrative. Speaking in Sikar, Dotasra defended the curriculum, introduced in 2020 after a govt committee's recommendations, for including leaders like Vajpayee, Morarji Desai, Manmohan Singh, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Modi. "The aim is not education but enforcing RSS ideology," Dotasra said, criticizing Dilawar's focus on Modi-centric teaching as "dictatorial." He said that 80% of students already have the textbooks and vowed to raise the issue with the Chief Minister's Office, warning against using education to push ideological agendas.
