Karnataka Textbook Society releases clarification; says Bhagat Singh lesson not omitted

Slamming the textbook society, All-India Democratic Students Organisation, AIDSO and the All-India Save Education Committee, AISEC alleged that a speech by RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar is included in the textbook, while a lesson on Bhagat Singh has been omitted.

The Karnataka Textbook Society has released a clarification on the allegations claiming the removal of a lesson on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The Textbook Society clarified that the chapter has not been removed, and the Kannada textbook of Class 10 is currently at the printing stage. Slamming the textbook society, All-India Democratic Students Organisation, AIDSO and the All-India Save Education Committee, AISEC alleged that a speech by RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar is included in the textbook, while a lesson on Bhagat Singh has been omitted.

Class 10 Kannada textbook still at printing stage

The official statement released by the society stated, "Currently there are reports in the media that a lesson on Hedgewar has been included into class 10 first language Kannada text book by omitting a chapter on Bhagat Singh. The reality is that the chapter on Bhagat Singh has not been omitted from textbooks.”

"It is hereby clarified that the revised first language Kannada textbook of class 10 is currently under printing," it added.

It also added that Rohith Chakrathirtha heads a committee constituted to examine Social Science and language textbooks and revise them. The Society clarified that the Committee has revised Social Science textbooks from class 6 to 10 and Kannada language textbooks from class 1 to 10.

Defending the inclusion of a speech by Hedgewar in a revised Kannada textbook, Primary and Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh on said that the textbook only contains Hedgewar’s speech on what should be an inspiration to people, especially the youth, and that those who have raised objections have not gone through the textbook.

The organisations have also alleged that works by renaissance literary figures like A N Murthi Rao's 'Vyaghrageethe,' P Lankesh's 'Mruga Mattu Sundari,' and Sara Aboobacker's 'Yuddha' were omitted from the textbook.

Commenting on the issue, Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar said, "Today they are removing Bhagat Singh, tomorrow they will remove Mahatma Gandhi." "Let us never forget the sacrifices of those who freed us from colonialism," he added.

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