Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday put a stop to the race among BJP-ruled States to include a chapter on his life in school textbooks when he disapproved of the move.
There were reports that the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat governments had announced their intent to include a chapter on Mr. Modi in textbooks. With the Prime Minister speaking out against the proposal, the Gujarat government has already dropped it. .
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh School Education Minister Paras Chandra Jain said the government had not even considered such a proposal.
Mr. Modi’s comments did not generate an animated debate on Twitter. Only actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna’s wife Kavita differed with Mr. Modi. “Humbly, I disagree with you. Lessons and inspiration are not just from those deceased, but living legends too.”
While there were some digs at how one political family found mention in textbooks, some said such “sycophancy” must be curbed. “Time will come when the nation will demand this,” said one member of the Twitterati, while another maintained it was premature to do so now “but surely if you lead the country as promised.”
(With additional reporting by Rahi Gaikwad in Ahmedabad)
