Page 39 - Tehelka-May18

Politics

When history becomes a political never spoken against the BJP and to check the hue and cry over the is- been done. The same content had
was also doing things at their be-
been restructured and merged in a
sue. However, it is unlikely that the
hest. He also alleged that the CM,
issue will die down so soon. Earlier,
more cohesive format in a chrono-
issue, acrimony is bound to ensue Capt Amarinder, was actually act- the government set up a 6-member logical order for better learning.
Oversight Committee, headed by
Till now PSEB was only prescrib-
ing in this manner because of cases
ing the syllabus. Private publishers
eminent historian Prof. Kirpal Singh
filed against his son-in-law and son.
Demanding a white paper on
changes made in history books, to review the book before its further were printing books. Many of these
release. The government’s thinking
books were guides with standard
What happens when history textbooks become a political issue? Chaos and confusion generating Khaira said there were 22 chapters was that it would be better for the questions and answers. The board
on Punjab history in the earlier
panel to undertake a review of the
used to recommend some of these
a lot of heat and dust has engulfed Punjab, with the ruling party and the opposition at loggerheads Class-12 book, but only two chapters, book before its further release to after evaluation by a group of three
‘Towards Sikh Rule’ and ‘Punjab un- avoid further controversies. to four subject experts.
with each other, writes rajendra khatry
der British Rule’, had been devoted The Punjab School Education This is the first time PSEB pub-
in the new book. “The history book Board was directed to facilitate the lished history textbooks for sen-
n the past few days, Punjab Singh-led Congress government Congress government of neglecting has been reduced to 182 pages from committee for completing this task ior secondary classes. Earlier the
has been rocked by the ruling in Punjab was pursuing the Rash- and sidelining Sikh gurus, as well as 300 pages earlier. Only 20 pages at the earliest. Besides, Prof. Kirpal students were totally dependent
Congress party’s move to in- triya Swayamsevak (RSS) agenda in the glorious history and culture of have been devoted to Punjab his- Singh, the committee comprised of on books or ‘guides’ published by
troduce new history textbooks Punjab. the Punjabi community. SGPC also tory,” he said. former Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak
I for Class XI and XII. On the The opposition-Aam Aadmi Par- asked the Punjab government to re- • Blame game The strong opposition to the Dev University Prof. J S Grewal, for-
surface, it seems as if the political ty (AAP), as well as the Shiromani view the book. The govt claims move finally forced the Punjab gov- mer Pro-Vice Chancellor GNDU An AAP leader
parties are simply opposing the gov- Akali Dal (SAD), were up in arms The leader of Opposition in that chapters ernment to put on hold the further Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapur, Emeri- has accused chief
ernment’s move on a sentimental immediately with the introduction Punjab, AAP party’s Sukhpal Singh pertaining to release of the Class XII history book tus Prof. of History Panjab Univer-
issue-that of deletion of chapters on of new history textbook for Class Khaira even accused the Congress Sikh history till the newly constituted Oversight sity, Prof. Indu Banga, two eminent minister Amarinder
Sikh Gurus and history in the new XII even as the draft for the Class XI government of dancing to the tune had only been Committee examines it and decides historians to be nominated by the Singh of playing
textbook. However, there is more to textbook was being finalised. Both of BJP government at the centre shifted from on the way forward. For the time Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak
the issue than meets the eye. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the and willing to pander to its wishes. class 12 to being it looks like a damage control Committee. the BJP’s game by
Indeed, it is not just a matter of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Khaira alleged that Amarinder had class 11 exercise by the Punjab government Incidentally, the Committee was
parties going overboard with de- asked to examine history syllabus of removing chapters on
letion of chapters on Sikh Gurus. the Punjab School Education Board Sikh gurus from the
Sources said there is another angle (PSEB) and to suggest corrections
involved-that of book publishing. for factual and other errors if any, history textbooks
Making a change from the earlier and to align, as may be practicably in the state
practice, the Punjab government possible, the History syllabus with
has decided to change syllabus and that prescribed by the NCERT. Be-
publish books on its own rather sides, the committee was also asked private publishers. The course has
than depending on the private pub- to give suggestions for necessary been aligned with the NCERT sylla-
lishers. This perhaps is not to the lik- corrections and improvement in bus as is done in the case of physics,
ing of the private publishers as their the syllabus. Now, the 94-years-old chemistry and maths, according to
business gets hit. committee head, Professor Kirpal sources in Punjab government.
Corroborating this view, Punjab Singh has gone on record to say dis- But why did the issue become
Finance Minister Manpreet Singh crepancies in Class XII were inten- controversial? The PSEB actually
Badal alleged that private publish- tional. This may embolden the op- took a thematic approach. It re-
ers were behind the entire ‘contro- position attack on the government. structured, realigned and merged
versy’ over the book simply because The SAD, AAP and SGPC had raised chapters of the history syllabus for
their business was getting affected objections that a major portion of the two classes-XI and XII. Nine
due to the books being brought out Sikh history was removed from the chapters related to history and
by the Punjab Education Board. Class XII book. If it was intentional, socio-economic conditions of Pun-
Manpreet Singh said PSEB is an au- the question arises as to why and for jab, Sikh gurus and their teachings,
tonomous body and syllabus revi- what purpose? origin and growth of Sikh Misls and
sion was an academic exercise. He Meanwhile, the Punjab govern- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s conquests,
said PSEB’s academic autonomy ment regretted ‘any mistakes’ in which were part of Class XII course,
should be respected. books, but denied deletion of chap- were included in Class XI textbook
Badal said political concerns ters as alleged by the opposition which is still to come out. This led to
should not affect the debate on the parties. According to Punjab gov- confusion and misunderstanding.
textbook. He strongly refuted the ernment, no deletion or pruning of
charge that the Capt Amarinder content related to Sikh history had letters@tehelka.com

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