NCERT’s removal of Gandhi’s murder aims to whitewash organisation involved in it: Pinarayi Vijayan
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Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while releasing textbooks that include the portions removed by the NCERT under the pretence of lightening the content, stated that the exclusion of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination from these textbooks was an attempt to whitewash the individuals and organizations involved in it.
Vijayan expressed strong criticism against the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for its decision to remove specific sections from higher secondary textbooks.
The move by NCERT has sparked controversy, with Chief Minister Vijayan alleging that it appears to be driven by vested interests and could potentially have detrimental effects on students.
The Chief Minister's concerns centre around the perceived impact of the alterations on students' understanding of society and history. He emphasized that the changes could potentially shape a generation that lacks a sense of humanity and is steeped in prejudices, thereby endangering the core principles of secularism and fraternity that the state holds dear.
To counter these alterations, Chief Minister Vijayan announced the release of additional textbooks for class 11 and 12 students in the state. These supplementary material will incorporate the sections that were removed from the NCERT textbooks.
The move is seen as an alternative approach to ensure that crucial topics, which the Chief Minister deems as "unavoidable," are not omitted from the curriculum and that students receive a comprehensive education.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister questioned the credibility of the NCERT's decision, particularly the claim that the changes were made based on recommendations from an expert committee. He pointed out that the identities of these so-called experts have not been disclosed, raising concerns about the transparency of the decision-making process.
The sections that were removed from the NCERT textbooks include chapters on significant historical events like Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, the Mughal rule, and poverty. Chief Minister Vijayan argued that these sections are essential for a well-rounded education and accused the alterations of being politically motivated rather than aimed at lightening the burden of textbooks.
He suggested that this omission could lead to a whitewashing of the individuals and organizations involved in Gandhi's assassination, potentially distorting historical facts and glorifying figures with controversial legacies.
Chief Minister Vijayan called for an education policy that not only imparts knowledge and skills but also upholds the country's constitutional values, socialist ideals, gender justice, and scientific awareness.