Inspiration from ideology: Karnataka government defends decision to include RSS founder's speech in textbooks
India Today
Textbook review committee's Rohith Chakrathirtha has defended the government's decision to include chapters on the RSS founder's speech in school textbooks.
The Karnataka government’s textbook review committee chaired by writer Rohith Chakrathirtha has once again defended its decision to include chapters on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar's speech in revised Kannada school textbooks for class 10.
Speaking to India Today, Chakrathirtha said, "Hedgewar's speech has been added without any ill-intention. He in his speech has said that students must look up to ideologies and not people for inspiration."
The government official has also issued a clarification on the removal of chapters on Bhagat Singh and socio-religious reformers Narayana Guru and Swami Vivekananda.
READ | Did not remove lesson on Bhagat Singh from textbooks, clarifies Karnataka government
"We've not removed any chapters on Bhagat Singh or Narayana Guru. We have included more lessons on Bhagat Singh and Tipu Sultan. We have eight different parts [chapters]. We have also added the contributions made by the Wodeyars of Mysuru [creator of modern Mysuru]," he said.
"We've not made any changes to Kuvempu's chapters. We've only corrected certain things. If anyone has proof or any complaint saying that we've added or excluded anything that wrongly influences students, then we are ready to change it," he added.
Earlier, Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah had tweeted an old Facebook post by Chakrathirtha that allegedly mocked Kuvempu, widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century.
