Mysuru, June 2, 2022 (www.justkannada.in): Renowned litterateur S.L. Byrappa, in his reaction to the ongoing textbook curriculum revision row has expressed his view that textbooks should have only the truth and not anyone’s ideologies.
Addressing a press meet in Mysuru today, S.L. Byarappa informed that textbooks were revised even during the time of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “I was kept out of the revision committee as I demanded that the textbooks should contain the truth. Then also they had prepared the curriculum by having the members in the committee as they wished. Almost all the Congress state governments agreed and adopted it,” he explained.
“Textbooks have only the truth, not anyone’s ideologies. I am a writer, not an activist. Textbook curriculum revision was proposed even during Vajpayee’s time. But the litterateurs across the country started an ‘Award Return’ movement. I had suggested they return the cash prize amount also along with the award. Within 15 days they became silent,” he revealed.
Dissatisfaction against litterateurs
Explaining an incident of Tipu Sultan’s failure during the third Mysuru war, S.L. Byarappa informed that the British had asked Tipu to fulfill the loss. But, as Tipu didn’t have money, he pledged his children. “Tipu had written a letter to the Afghanistan sultan, “let us convert India into an Islam country. Why such things are not told in the textbooks? I wonder why our nation is becoming like this? In his book, Nehru describes Aurangzeb as a person with ideologies. He also mentioned that Aurangzeb had an abnormality but doesn’t describe what kind of abnormality. If we speak about the temples destroyed by Aurangzeb, they will label us as communal. It is not possible in our country to mention the truth in textbooks. If anyone attempts to change it, they will create havoc,” he said.
Keywords: Litterateur S.L. Byrappa/ text book revision/ Indira Gandhi
