Opposition accuses the BJP of promoting divisive ideology, vows legal action
Team Clarion
BHOPAL – A fresh controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh as the state government has decided to include books written by leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in the college syllabus. The Higher Education Department has issued a directive mandating the purchase and study of 88 selected books, including works by prominent RSS figures like Dr. Atul Kothari, Dina Nath Batra, Devendra Rao Deshmukh, and Suresh Soni.
According to a report published by the Hindi news portal ‘TV9,’ a copy of the government order and the list of books has been obtained, confirming that the decision was taken as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The books, focusing on Indian academic traditions, will be taught under the newly established ‘Indian Knowledge Cell’ in state colleges.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party. Former Congress MLA Kunal Choudhary expressed strong displeasure, questioning the government’s intentions. “The BJP now wants to transform the Indian Knowledge Cell into the Indian Ignorance Cell. Are we now going to teach hatred in the colleges of Madhya Pradesh?” Choudhary remarked. He further asserted that the decision was “completely wrong” and announced plans to challenge it in court.
The Congress party’s outrage was echoed by its spokesperson KK Mishra, who accused the BJP government of attempting to indoctrinate students with a divisive and hateful ideology. “The work of these authors is influenced by a particular ideology rather than educational qualifications. This is an attempt to saffronise education, and we will repeal this order if we come to power,” Mishra said.
The directive includes books by Vidya Bharati, the educational wing of the RSS. Among the authors whose works will now be part of the curriculum are Sandeep Waslekar and 14 books by former Vidya Bharati general secretary Dinanath Batra, who has previously hogged headlines for demanding the removal of a revolutionary poem by Punjabi poet ‘Paash’ from a Class XI Hindi textbook.
However, the BJP has defended the decision, arguing that it promotes Indian knowledge traditions and counters the “anti-national ideologies” that were previously part of the education system. BJP state president VD Sharma supported the move, stating, “What is wrong in saffronisation of education? At least we are not promoting anti-national ideology that was once imposed by leftist ideologues in our school and college curriculum.”
