Image Credits : NDTV. Com
Union Minister for Road Transport and Motor Vehicles Nitin Gadkari addresses an event organized after the completion of 9 years of the Modi government’s tenure in Nagpur on Saturday, June 17, 2024. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has expressed his displeasure over the Karnataka government’s decision to revise school textbooks in the state. He criticised the removal of chapters as “unfortunate”. Gadkari shared his views at VD Savarkar’s book launch event.
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The Reforms
Image credits : Outlook India
The Karnataka government recently approved the revision of social studies and Kannada textbooks in public schools for classes 6-10. As part of the review, chapters on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideology leader VD Savarkar were deleted, among others. On June 15, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa announced the removal of the KB Hedgewar chapter from the school curriculum.
He explained that the changes made by the previous government were reversed and the curriculum was restored. Reports suggest that the Congress-led government has removed Chapter X from the Kannada textbook, which was introduced during the previous BJP government. Responding to the amendments, Bangarappa said, “There are certain issues and a five-member committee has been formed.
Several stakeholders have pressured our chief minister to make some changes. We have made small changes for the benefit of children. Notifications of the changes will reach the schools within a week. The decision to remove certain chapters from textbooks sparked controversy and raised concerns about curriculum integrity and ideological implications. The topic is still a hot topic in educational circles.
Gadkaris stand
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The Karnataka government’s decision to remove chapters on Dr Hedgewar and Swatantra Veer Savarkar from the state’s school textbooks has drawn criticism from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Expressing disappointment, Gadkari called the change unfortunate and expressed concern about its impact on students’ knowledge and understanding of Indian history.
A controversial decision which aims to change the curriculum to reflect a broader history has drawn mixed reactions. However, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari publicly criticised the decision and expressed his disagreement with the exclusion of these influential persons from the study material. Sad loss of historical perspective Nitin Gadkari emphasised that the removal of the chapters of Dr Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar from Karnataka school textbooks is regrettable.
He argued that if these important figures were left out of the curriculum, students would miss out on valuable knowledge about the country’s history and the ideologies that shaped it. Gadkari emphasized the importance of giving a holistic and balanced understanding of India’s freedom struggle, including the contributions and philosophies of leaders like Dr Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar.
Impact on Students’ Knowledge
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The omission of chapters on Doctor Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar from textbooks raises concerns about students’ awareness and awareness of India’s historical figures and their role in the country’s development. Gadkari expressed concern that the decision could hinder students’ ability to develop a comprehensive understanding of India’s rich cultural and political heritage.
Union minister Nitin Gadkar’s criticism of the Karnataka government’s decision to remove chapters on Dr Hedgewar and Veer Savarkar from school textbooks highlights the ongoing debate about how to present history inclusively. Balancing inclusiveness and ensuring holistic education is a difficult task that requires thoughtful consideration and open dialogue between decision-makers, educators and stakeholders.
