Madhya Pradesh Government Directs Colleges to Include Books on Indian Traditions, Sparking Debate

Madhya Pradesh mandates colleges to integrate 88 books on Indian traditional knowledge, sparking a debate between Congress and BJP over educational priorities.

on Aug 14, 2024

Madhya Pradesh Government Directs Colleges to Include Books

The Madhya Pradesh government has instructed colleges across the state to acquire a selection of 88 books aimed at integrating Indian traditional knowledge into the academic curriculum. This directive, issued by the Higher Education Department, includes works by prominent RSS figures such as Suresh Soni, Dinanath Batra, and Devendra Rao Deshmukh, all associated with Vidya Bharti, the RSS's educational arm.

In addition to mandating the purchase of these books, the government has recommended establishing a 'Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Prakoshtha' (Indian Knowledge Tradition Cell) in each college to facilitate their introduction into undergraduate courses. This move has elicited criticism from the Congress party, which argues that only relevant academic subjects should be taught and that the focus should not be on promoting political ideologies. Conversely, the BJP defends the initiative, asserting that the books support the principles of nation-building and patriotism.

Dr. Dhirendra Shukla from the Higher Education Department clarified that the inclusion of these books aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for the integration of Indian knowledge traditions into education. Shukla emphasized that the selection was made from a broad range of publishers and that similar recommendations have been made for approximately 400 books.

The controversy follows a recent announcement by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who plans to incorporate teachings of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna into the state's curriculum. Critics, including Congress spokesperson Mukesh Nayak, argue that colleges should focus on practical skills amid rising unemployment. In response, BJP spokesperson Narendra Saluja defended the book list, asserting that it promotes national values and counteracts previous political biases.