NCERT big decision! 'Khalistan' references removed from Class 12 textbooks; Know why-

New Delhi, May 31: In a significant development, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to remove the mention of Khalistan from Class 12 Political Science textbooks. The decision was taken in meeting of experts committee. The mention was in the book 'Politics in India Since independence'.

 

 

 

The decision was taken after Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) wrote a letter to the NCERT. In this, they demanded that the mention of Khalistan should be removed from the Class 12 book. Also, the mention of the fact that Sikhs are shown as 'separatists' be removed from NCERT books, the letter said.

 

An expert committee was constituted to look into the complaint, and the decision has been taken on their recommendation, NCERT said. The soft copy of the Class 12 Political Science textbook with changes is uploaded on the NCERT's website, it added.

 

 

"From the last sentence of the third paragraph under the sub-heading 'Punjab' the line'...but it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation' is dropped. Just before this line, the given statement is rewritten as 'The Resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism in India'. In the same section (Sub-heading 'Punjab'), from the last sentence of the fourth paragraph, '... and the creation of Khalistan' is dropped" NCERT said in an official statement.

 

 

In the Class 12 textbook, the text under the section 'Punjab' talked about the Anandpur Sahib Resolution in 1973 which demanded greater autonomy for the Punjab region.

 

The NCERT textbook read, "The resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism. But it could also be interpreted as a plea for a separate Sikh nation." The latter sentence has been dropped in the revised version.

 

In the next paragraph, the NCERT political science textbook read: ”A few years later, after the Akali government was dismissed in 1980, the Akali Dal launched a movement on the question of distribution of water between Punjab and its neighbouring states. A section of the religious leaders raised the question of autonomous Sikh identity. The more extreme elements started advocating for secession from India and the creation of ‘Khalistan’.” The last sentence has also been dropped in the revised version.

 

 

Notably, in April SCPC said the Anandpur Sahib resolution adopted in 1973 by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had been interpreted as a "separatist resolution".

 

“The SGPC raises strong objection over the misinformation being spread about Sikhs. Historical references related to Sikhs have been distorted in NCERT books. Sikhs shouldn’t be presented as separatists. The text must be removed immediately,” said SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami at the time.

 

He had said that the NCERT has recorded "misleading information" about the Anandpur Sahib resolution namely Regional Aspirations, of its book 'Politics In India Since Independence', which has hurt the sentiments of the community.

 

He said the 1973 resolution talked about the state's rights and strengthening the federal structure. "It is not at all justified to portray Sikhs as separatists, so the NCERT should remove such highly objectionable mentions. The communal aspect has been taken while removing some old information and adding some new details in the Class 12 syllabus," Dhami had said.