Karnataka textbook issue, CM Bommai made big announcement

In an effort to put an end to the on-going controversy surrounding revised school textbooks. Karnataka textbook issue, CM Bommai made big announcement. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has disbanded the textbook review committee amid allegations textbook issue.

In a statement, CM Bommai said the textbook review committee had been dissolved as its designated work was completed. Basavaraj Bommai said the government was open to further revision if there is any objectionable content.

The Karnataka government had been engulfed in a raging controversy after the textbook review committee included a lesson on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar’s speech in school books while allegedly omitting chapters on freedom fighters, social reformers and literary figures.

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There were also allegations of erroneous content on Basavanna and certain factual errors in school textbooks. Previously, the government had staunchly denied the omissions and mistakes. Many authors and Lingayat seers and mutts had raised objections to the review committee’s actions.

Controversy erupted last month over alleged revision in the History text books for the state’s PUC colleges. People had alleged ‘saffronising’ of education. Sacking of review committee chief Rohith Chakratirtha was amongst the demands for for including lesson on RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar’s speech.

And omitting chapters on key figures like freedom fighters, social reformers, and writings of noted literary figures. There were also allegations of erroneous content on Basavanna and certain factual errors in the textbooks, including accusations of disrespecting ‘Raashtra Kavi’ (national poet) Kuvempu and distortion of the state anthem penned by him.

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CM has also said that the Kannada textbooks that were revised by the previous textbook review committee headed by Prof Baraguru Ramachandrappa (during Congress govt) had only seven essays or poems related to Kuvempu, while their number has been increased to 10 in the ones revised by the current committee.

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A chapter on Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda (founder of Bengaluru) has been newly added to the textbook, he said, adding that the previous text books had essays on Islam and Christianity, which have now been supplemented by essays on Hinduism in the new textbooks.