As part of its vision to teach the ideas envisaged by the RSS in the education system, as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, the Madhya Pradesh government has directed all the colleges across the state to adopt ‘Indian knowledge systems,’ or Bharatiya Gyan Parampara.
This directive mandates that educational institutions purchase from a curated list of 88 books authored by figures associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), including a compilation by the RSS’s educational arm, Vidya Bharti, The Wire reported.
The state's higher education department has advised both government-aided and private colleges to form a Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Prakoshth—a dedicated cell to familiarise students with Indian knowledge traditions.
This cell is responsible for acquiring the listed books, which include works by prominent RSS members such as former joint-general secretary Suresh Soni and Dinanath Batra, a notable ideologue on education within the RSS. Batra's influence extends beyond Madhya Pradesh, with his works previously integrated into the Gujarat school curriculum.
The selection encompasses a range of topics, including Vedic Mathematics and writings by Swami Vivekananda, reflecting a broad scope of Indian intellectual heritage. However, the move has attracted criticism from the Congress party, which accuses the BJP of using educational policy to promote divisive ideologies and foster sectarianism.