Row over book on Nehru sparks fresh political fire

A newly released book on India’s first Prime Minister, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, has ignited a sharp political confrontation in Himachal Pradesh, with the opposition BJP openly challenging both its substance and the timing of its release. The book, The Visionary, authored by Dr Rajesh Sharma, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE), delves into Nehru’s political thought and his blueprint for a modern nation.

Launched on November 14, Nehru’s birth anniversary, the publication has already been circulated across government schools, a move that has prompted objections from several BJP leaders.

Leader of the Opposition and former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has raised concerns over the inclusion of messages from a long list of senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Ajay Maken, Rajani Patel and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

According to him, the presence of these messages gives the impression that the Education Board is promoting Congress ideology rather than honouring Nehru’s legacy in a neutral manner. BJP MLA Vipin Parmar went a step further, calling the initiative a “wastage of the board’s money” and claiming that nearly half the book’s pages are filled with messages from Congress figures.

He alleged that public funds were being used to push the ruling party’s political narrative among schoolchildren. BJP spokesman Sanjay Sharma echoed these objections, accusing the board of prioritising political messaging over Nehru’s historic contributions.

Dr Rajesh Sharma has firmly rejected the criticism, stressing that Nehru “was the first Prime Minister of the country, not of any party.” He said the Opposition was interpreting the effort through a narrow political lens, while the Board’s intent was to reconnect students with Nehru’s intellectual legacy. He argued that everything associated with Nehru carries national significance and that the book was designed to familiarise young readers with the foundations of modern India.

Justifying the inclusion of messages from Congress leaders, Dr Sharma said the board had reached out to national-level figures and remained open to including messages from leaders of other parties as well. “If BJP leaders want a message from the Union Education Minister added, they can send it, we will include it in the reprint,” he said, urging the Opposition to avoid “petty politics.” He added that the book was released after permission from the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund and priced at Rs 50, is expected to support HPBOSE’s revenue while promoting reading habits among students at a time when concerns over mobile addiction and substance abuse are rising.