Chandigarh: It is learnt that a book titled “History and Political Science” which is part of school curriculum for 9th standard students in Maharashtra carries vicious propaganda against the Sikh struggle. On page 10, while discussing India’s Internal Challenges, the books puts forward the Indian State’s narrative demonising the Sikh struggle and terms Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other Sikh martyrs as ‘terrorists’. The book is published by The Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production and Curriculum Research, Pune.
Title Page of the Controversial Book
Where as the book repeats state’s propaganda on the issue of Sikh struggle of 1980s and also mentions the execution of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards (after she had ordered Indian army to invade the Darbar Sahib complex and other Gurdwara Sahibs in Punjab and adjoining states), it does not mention the state-sponsored genocide of Sikhs conducted throughout India in first week of November 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s execution.
The books is available in English, Marathi and Hindi languages.
It is notable that Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and other Sikh martyrs who defended the Darbar Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib during June 1984 attack by Indian Army are recognised as Sikh martyrs and defenders of the faith by the Sikhs. Their martyrdom day is observed annually at the Akal Takht Sahib.
Sikh circles have expressed concerns and outrage over vicious propaganda against Sikhs in school book of Maharashtra as this would infect the minds of pupils with wrongful conceptions about Sikhs and their struggle.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee and other Sikh institutions and organisations should take serious notice of this issue.
[Editor’s note: The images of the book’s pages carrying the wrongful propaganda against the Sikhs are available with the Sikh Siyasat News. SSN has decided not to reproduce it here as we do not want to promote such an offensive matter in any manner].