Kolkata: RSS affiliate organisation Akhil Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal (ABSM) on Monday expressed displeasure over Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas's (another RSS wing) suggestion to drop thoughts of Rabindranath Tagore from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks in West Bengal.
Few days ago, Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas sent a suggestion letter to the NCERT on reviewing school textbooks of all classes. In their letter Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas – drafted by its head Dina Nath Batra - suggested to remove several points/ topics which includes few words in Urdu, Arabic, in English language.
They also suggested to remove poems of revolutionary poet Pash, couplet by Mirza Ghalib, thoughts of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, 2002 Gujarat riot, painter M F Husain's autobiography, references of Mughal emperor etc.
Speaking to News18, ABSM, Organising Secretary, Alok Chattopadhyay, said, "Kobiguru (Rabindranath Tagore) is a matter of pride for us. If there is an attempt to remove his though from NCERT textbook – then it is not acceptable to the people of West Bengal."
When asked whether - they will raise the matter before the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas on behalf of ABSM or not, he said, "Let me go through it in details and then only we will take our next course of action. But such attempt in the name of Tagore is not good."
Rabindranath Tagore's distant relative Supriya Tagore, said, "I don't want to comment on such initiative. This issue is something, which every Indian should protest. I strongly protest this move and if required I will take the matter to the government."
Educationist Pabitra Sarkar - former vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati University - said, "This is scary. A section of people want to change the history. They want to deprive our students from facts. How can someone remove Rabindranath Tagore and other eminent persons from text book? How can someone think of such move? This is nothing but a Hindutva move and I condemn this."
Taking a serious note of the matter the West Bengal government condemned the move to remove Rabindranath Tagore from NCERT textbooks.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien has also raised the matter in Parliament on Monday.
Derek O'Brien said, "What is going on? He wrote the national anthem! Kobiguru is a national treasure. We do not want to do politics with Rabindranath Tagore."
He demanded an explanation from the central government and HRD ministry in the House.
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