Panel restructures school curriculum, readies draft of new syllabus
Higher secondary students in State-run schools in West Bengal may no longer have the opportunity to study from their textbooks subjects such as the works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels — founders of Marxism — and the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
A committee to restructure school education syllabus in the State has prepared a final draft of new syllabus excluding the topics in the history textbooks.
“The committee has done away with excess stress on any particular topic including Karl Marx. With alterations, we have tried to present history of the world in a new thematic way,” Avik Majumdar, the chairperson of the Committee, told The Hindu.
Mr. Majumdar said that the committee had recommended teaching historical background of Latin America, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela and the Chinese revolution instead.
Stating that the existing history textbooks stressed on a particular ideology, he said that the committee has tried to have a balanced approach on the history syllabus. “The committee has not excluded anyone without logic,” he said.
Teachers of the subject, however, claim that there had s been no overemphasis on Marx in the existing textbooks. The history textbooks of Class XI and class XII discuss the Industrial Revolution and refer to Karl Marx and his contributions in that context.
The 19-member committee has prepared the final draft of the new syllabus and will be submitting it to the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education the next week.
Certain representatives of the Committee, however, are in the dark about the developments.
“The matter was discussed in a meeting and members had also raised objection to the proposal. But we have no idea that whether the final draft of syllabus has excluded these subjects,” a committee member said.
The Committee was set up by the State government in July 2011 to frame syllabus of all subjects “in conformity with [the] National Curriculum Framework, 2005, Right of the Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and modern developments in pedagogy.”
However, noted educationist Sunanda Sanyal, who was appointed chairperson of the committee, resigned within months citing differences with the government.
It is a good step. Like the removal of A K Ramanujam's book from Delhi University's history syllabus, this move will force us to think about the difference between history and identity politics.
There are many types of dictators and one of them is that which bans a
particular news paper/s in educational institutions . History is
dictated to weaken the opponents socially as well as ideologically . The
fact is that the truth never dies . Marxism is a reality and would be a
reality .
Banning Marx and Engels works will only serve to improve its publicity. Could this lady can indicate one line in Marx and Engels that misleads society.
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Communist manifesto and their theory
has a huge impact on Indian political history and especially the
history of West Bengal.
The previous communist govt. may have plundered the states riches by
encouraging cronyism and cadre politics and used ruthless violence to
root out decent. Their rule is testament to how the Communist in India
has twisted the teaching of Marx and Engels.
Expunging Marx and Engels is like deleting history and depriving
people the opportunity to learn what Marx and Engels really said and
how it was practiced. It's the same as those who don't learn from the
past mistakes are bound to repeat it.
Getting rid of Marx or banning his books in West Bengal is not the
solution for the TMC govt., it will never fully get rid of the still
looming threat from the Communist to Mamata Banerjee's throne at
Writers Building. It is another recipe for fueling decent. People will
be attracted to learn more about Marx theories once it's axed.
Good news, communism is just brainwash which does not belong in schools.
all it does is takes away the rights and freedom of common people in a
hope for an equal society. bureaucrats blind the common people so they
can control all the power in society. This leads to widespread
corruption. if you disagree with me please give a successful case of
communism in the world.
It was never said that Marx is being removed from textbooks. It is only the extra
stress that was laid will be removed. I dont understand how they can report totally distorted versions. Reporting is becoming the real issue here sending wrong
messages to the people. Need to change this attitude of press.
After all our late prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Subash chandra
bose got inspired by the october revolution! And this attempt to delete
this revolution from the history text book equals an attempt to delete a
spark(idea) which occurs in every student's mind when reading the same.
Pity to see when a history student from capitalistic America can study
about Marx and a student from a state in India following socialistic
principles can't read about him in the school.
Quote: "There are books on Marx available in the stores that anyone can buy and
read"
Right, so let them buy and read them. Let the textbooks be free from useless piece
of information
this is good news. There is no relevance of Communisim in the whole world today, there is no use studying the dying philosophy. While capitalism is not an answer to the ills of the society, neither communisim. Even in China, what is practiced is not commnisim but free trade except that the leaders use communism to control the media, society by blocking free speech and democracy. Use it for their own purposes and not for the original purpose for which Communisim was preached by leaders in the past.
This is really sad to hear. History is supposed to be factual, not thematic. Tch.
It is difficult to understand the allergy to Marx. When you can teach about Jesus Christ, Aurobindo, Nelson Mandela, Gandhiji, Muhammad -- why, even abklut Hitler and Genghis Khan, what is the objection to teaching about Marx? Can Mamata Bannerji wish away history? There are books on Marx available in the stores that anyone can buy and read. There may be books on Marx in many public and college/school libraries. Is Mamata Bannerji planning to ban books on Marx as she has done many periodicals? Or is she going to burn them a la Taliban?
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