The BJP government in Karnataka has succumbed to criticism from various quarters regarding the revision of textbooks by a committee headed by Kannada Development Authority chairman Rohit Chakratirtha.
The Education Department has ordered reforms in textbooks as per the demands of progressive thinkers and opposition parties. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda had written a letter to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai demanding removal of the revised syllabus.
Religious sages from the state’s three major castes – Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Kurubas – have objected to the revised education curriculum highlighting the mistreatment of social reformers Basavanna and Kanakadas.
Vokkaliga sages have objected to the humiliation of Rashtrakavi (national poet) Kuvempu, who is proudly respected by the community, and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, a Bengaluru-based architect.
Progressive thinkers and litterateurs have objected to the removal of lessons from social reformer Narayan Guru and freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The authors have written to the state government withdrawing permission to publish their work.
The ruling BJP, fearing that almost all communities would become hostile, finally ordered reforms in school textbooks.
The Government of Karnataka has directed to add the deleted line in the text on “Namma Constitution” (Our Constitution) which considers the contributions related to the drafting of the Indian Constitution. BR Ambedkar is called the “Architect of the Constitution”.
The state government has also noted that the texts of social reformers Kanakdas and Purandaradas have been curtailed in Class VII social science textbooks and it has directed publication of full chapters on them.
The state government has also ordered correction of material on Basavanna and publication of photographs of national poet Kuvempu. This directed the dropping of the line in the text on Kuvempu that he became a great writer with the help of many, which was strongly opposed. Students who are not happy with their result can also apply for revaluation.
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