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NDTV
5 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Naveen Patnaik Flags Omission of Odisha's Paika Rebellion From NCERT History Textbook
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed concern over the exclusion of the 1817 Paika Rebellion from the latest Class 8 history textbook released by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Calling it a "watershed moment in Odisha's history," Patnaik said the move undermines the sacrifices of the Paikas, who revolted against British rule nearly four decades before the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. "I had urged the Government of India several times to declare it as the first war of Independence. The omission of the epic rebellion from NCERT textbooks is a huge dishonour to our brave Paikas, 200 years after the rebellion," Patnaik said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to ensure justice is done to the Paika Bidroha and to the people of Odisha. However, NCERT issued a clarification on Monday night, stating that the recently released Exploring Society: India and Beyond is the first in a two-volume Social Science textbook series for Class 8. The council confirmed that regional resistance movements, including the Paika Rebellion of Odisha and the Kuka Movement of Punjab, will be included in the second volume, which is currently in its final stages and expected to be released between September and October 2025. In a detailed press note dated July 16, 2025, NCERT said the new textbook has been developed in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. It aims to offer students an integrated, multidisciplinary understanding of India's geography, economic life, governance, and history-covering the period from the 13th century to the mid-19th century. NCERT stated that the book was designed to avoid overloading students with information and instead focuses on fostering critical thinking. "All facts presented are based on well-known primary and secondary academic sources. A note titled 'History's Darker Period' has also been included on page 20 to help learners view the content in the right context," the council said.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
The story of Indian women: Empowered and powerless
Typically, the politics of gender in India has been a backlash against the perceived educational and financial independence of women. The reactions, particularly on social media, to the recent murder of a young tennis player allegedly by her father show that there are groups that view the rise of women celebrities and influencers as a threat to a system that rests on male power. The murdered girl's father told the Haryana police that he had been driven to the act because he had been constantly taunted for 'living off his daughter's income'. Barely a week later, Balasore district in Odisha faced a public bandh with angry citizens demanding justice for a 20-year-old student who had immolated herself after the college turned a deaf ear to her repeated complaints about a senior faculty member harassing her sexually. Former CM and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik said in a post on X that a failed system did not help a female student struggling for justice. There is little sensible discussion over such deaths. Both deaths coincidentally occurred in BJP-ruled states and are being politicised by the Opposition. This has resulted in the usual whataboutery from the ruling party's quarters: Why focus only on BJP-ruled states? What about the rape-murder of a doctor on a West Bengal campus? Some have called the Haryana incident an 'honour killing' since the family was prosperous, and the FIR states that the father of the player-turned-coach was angry with his increasingly defiant daughter. Even the term he used in his confession to his cousin used patriarchal archaism: 'Maine kanya vadh kiya hai (I have committed filicide).' Ironically, it is obvious from both these cases how, whatever the ground reality, gender equality has acquired the aura of an ideal socio-political stance for all Indian political parties. Even while defending perpetrators from their fold, all parties are quick to proclaim support for nari shakti and nari mukti. When elections are due, they promise subsidies and cash donations — now an inalienable part of all manifestos. But the promises printed on posters plastered all over town with the party supremo's beaming mugshot hide the ugly reality that the daily news unveils. From Vinesh Phogat and Radhika Yadav, to the Balasore case, we can clearly see the injustices that prevail within homes and workplaces even for women who appear to be protected, well-off and financially independent. Whatever the politicians' proclaimed position, scores of young Indian women are learning how their deemed empowerment may reveal another facet of their powerlessness as daughters, mothers, sisters, students and employees. Committees to register complaints against sexual harassment at the workplace often underscore a woman's powerlessness to access justice. We also realise how daily actions and quips, seemingly innocent or unintended, remind women of all ages of the Laxman rekha marking boundaries of female ambition and what society/employers will expect of them after elections and Mahila Shakti Divas and Ladli bahin/ beti celebrations are over. Inequality has many champions on social media. Not just trolls but many well-known influencers openly victim-shame and promote prejudice. This impacts the young indelibly. We can claim to have some of the most progressive laws to help and protect women from sexual predators. In reality, women see the law and instruments of the state treating those without connections in high places as abstract creatures with abstract rights. In Amrit Kaal, no law will sanction a father shooting his daughter. But the state often only intervenes once the most serious crime has already been committed. No state allows kanwariyas to assault a girl on a scooty with shoes because she defiled their holy cargo either. But this happened. No law in India will silence women or stop them from filing complaints of abuse against predatory male bosses. Women, though, know the standard reaction of college authorities, company boardrooms and office fact-finding committees in these circumstances. The writer is former chairperson, Prasar Bharati
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Odisha observes bandh over Balasore student's self-immolation case
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Bhadrak: Several opposition parties in Odisha observed a state-wide bandh on Thursday to protest against the death of a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who died after attempting remained shut and traffic was disrupted in many areas, including Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj. In Bhadrak, markets were closed and public transport was bandh also caused long traffic jams on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, where trucks and other vehicles were left stranded. Bus services were impacted in different parts of the Congress party, along with other opposition groups, including the All India Forward Bloc, led the bandh. They blamed the state government for failing to respond to the student's repeated cries for demanded a proper investigation into the case and called for stronger measures to ensure the safety and justice for women in the state.A day earlier, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had also taken to the streets and called for a 'Balasore Bandh' in protest against the Odisha government. BJD chief and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the state government and the police over the alleged use of force against BJD workers who were protesting in connection with the Tuesday, eight opposition parties, including the Congress, jointly called for an ' Odisha Bandh ' on July 17, demanding the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation into the 20-year-old student had allegedly faced sustained sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. Despite filing a formal complaint and repeatedly seeking help from the college principal, her concerns reportedly went unaddressed, leading her to set herself on fire on campus last was first admitted to Balasore district hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her burn injuries on Monday, according to hospital the incident, the college's HoD, Samira Kumar Sahu, and Principal, Dilip Ghose, have been arrested in connection with the case.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Odisha Bandh Over Student's Death: Shops Closed, Traffic Hit On Chennai-Kolkata Highway
Last Updated: The bandh was called after a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan College in Balasore allegedly set herself on fire on campus. Odisha Bandh Today: Security has been heightened in Odisha, with security personnel being deployed in the capital, Bhubaneswar, as several Opposition parties called for 'Odisha bandh'. The 'bandh' has been called against the state government over the death of a student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College by self-immolation. Shops remain shut, and traffic is disrupted in several areas, including Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj. In Bhadrak, markets were closed and public transport was affected due to the Odisha bandh. The Chennai-Kolkata Highway witnessed long traffic jams, with trucks and other vehicles being stuck and left stranded due to the closure. Besides trucks, bus operations in many regions of the state also remain affected. The bandh was led by the Congress party, along with other opposition groups, including the All India Forward Bloc. They held the state government responsible for ignoring the student's repeated pleas for help. BJD Holds Protest Earlier on Wednesday, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had also taken to the streets and called for a 'Balasore Bandh' in protest against the Odisha government. BJD chief and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik slammed the state government for using force against BJD workers who were protesting in connection with the case. An Odisha Bandh was called by eight opposition parties on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation into the matter. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Odisha observes bandh over Balasore student's self-immolation case
Several opposition parties in Odisha observed a state-wide bandh on Thursday to protest against the death of a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore, who died after attempting self-immolation. Shops remained shut and traffic was disrupted in many areas, including Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj. In Bhadrak, markets were closed and public transport was affected. The bandh also caused long traffic jams on the Chennai-Kolkata Highway, where trucks and other vehicles were left stranded. Bus services were impacted in different parts of the state. The Congress party, along with other opposition groups, including the All India Forward Bloc, led the bandh. They blamed the state government for failing to respond to the student's repeated cries for help. Protesters demanded a proper investigation into the case and called for stronger measures to ensure the safety and justice for women in the state. A day earlier, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had also taken to the streets and called for a 'Balasore Bandh' in protest against the Odisha government. BJD chief and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the state government and the police over the alleged use of force against BJD workers who were protesting in connection with the case. On Tuesday, eight opposition parties, including the Congress, jointly called for an 'Odisha Bandh' on July 17, demanding the resignation of the State Higher Education Minister and a judicial investigation into the matter. The 20-year-old student had allegedly faced sustained sexual harassment by the Head of Department (HoD) at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore. Despite filing a formal complaint and repeatedly seeking help from the college principal, her concerns reportedly went unaddressed, leading her to set herself on fire on campus last Saturday. She was first admitted to Balasore district hospital and later shifted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar, where she succumbed to her burn injuries on Monday, according to hospital authorities. Following the incident, the college's HoD, Samira Kumar Sahu, and Principal, Dilip Ghose, have been arrested in connection with the case.
