Jaipur: A sharp political dispute has broken out in Rajasthan following the removal of four books from the school curriculum. State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra has alleged that the move is part of a “conspiracy to erase history”, while Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar has firmly rejected the accusation.

Responding to the criticism on Friday, Madan Dilawar accused the Congress party of attempting to mislead people. He also claimed that the party has a record of undermining prominent national figures, including BR Ambedkar. According to him, Congress had confined Babasaheb to the label of a “Dalit leader”, despite his role as a national icon who framed laws benefiting all sections of society.

Speaking to the media at his Jansamvad Kendra in Kota, Dilawar further alleged that Congress has frequently overlooked key leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in its narrative. He said that although Congress once had strong leaders like Patel and Shastri, their contributions have not been properly represented in textbooks.

Call for broader representation in textbooks

Dilawar emphasised that school books should contain comprehensive accounts of Prime Ministers including Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi. He described them as leaders who have made significant contributions to independent India.

“So, why is there no content on these leaders? The book titled ‘Azaad Bharat ka Swarnim Itihas’ should have carried work done in independent India; however, all text is missing,” he remarked.

He maintained that the government’s intention is not to distort history but to correct it. “Ambedkar was never a Jan Sangh leader, but among the greatest leaders of Congress, and yet he has been reduced to a one-line mention as a Dalit leader,” Dilawar said.

He added that Patel and Shastri, though not Jan Sangh leaders, were towering Congress figures whose detailed contributions are absent from textbooks.

Concerns over content on post-independence India

Dilawar also pointed out that although ‘Azad Bharat ka Swarnim Itihas’ is referenced, it lacks substantial material on post-independence India and its leadership. He reiterated that the existing content does not adequately reflect the contributions made after Independence.

Earlier, Govind Singh Dotasra had strongly criticised the decision, questioning the reasoning behind the removal of the textbooks. He described the move as a “direct assault on thought and history” and alleged that it was aimed at controlling narratives.

Dotasra warned that such changes could result in an entire generation being exposed to distorted facts and propaganda. He also questioned whether the books were withdrawn because they highlighted the roles of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, along with the Constitution drafted by Dr Ambedkar.

Four textbooks removed from classes 9 to 12

The Rajasthan Education Department has taken a significant step by removing four textbooks from the syllabus for Classes 9 to 12. In addition to excluding them from the curriculum, the department has categorised them as “deleted books”, effectively prohibiting their use in schools.

An official order issued by Sitaram Jat, Director of the department, clearly lists the titles and instructs both teachers and students not to use them.

Each class from 9 to 12 had one book removed. These books focus on Rajasthan and Indian history, covering themes such as the state’s historical legacy, the freedom struggle and India’s development after Independence.

List of removed books

The textbooks that have been withdrawn include the Class 9 titles ‘Rajasthan’s Freedom Movement’ and ‘Tradition of Valor’ in both Hindi and English. For Class 10, the book ‘History and Culture of Rajasthan’ in both languages has been removed. In Class 11, ‘Golden India After Independence’ in Hindi and English has been excluded, while Class 12 has lost ‘Golden India After Independence, Part 2’, again in both mediums.

Agency inputs