The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has reportedly purged certain references to Mahatma Gandhi from its textbooks. This has been attributed to the dislike of Gandhi by some Hindu extremist groups, as well as the banning of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) following the assassination of the Mahatma.
The changes were made in the class IX Social Science textbook, which had originally featured a chapter on India’s struggle for independence. According to reports, the chapter initially included a section on Gandhi’s philosophy and contribution to India’s freedom struggle. However, in the latest edition of the textbook, this section has been removed.
In addition to this, certain references to the RSS have also been removed from the textbook. This has been attributed to the organization’s alleged involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, which led to its ban in the aftermath of the event.
The removal of these references has sparked controversy and criticism from certain quarters, with many accusing the NCERT of bowing down to the pressure of right-wing groups. Some have also expressed concern that this could lead to a skewed and biased representation of India’s history and freedom struggle.
It is worth noting that the NCERT has denied any political pressure or influence behind the changes, and has stated that the revisions were made based on a review of the textbooks and feedback from teachers and experts.
However, the controversy surrounding the changes highlights the importance of ensuring that the representation of history and events in textbooks is balanced, accurate, and free from political bias or pressure.
