Historical myopia

The NCERT has dropped chapters and portions of textbooks relating to political science, civics and Hindi. These deletions have been made under the lame excuse of rationalisation of curriculum. The deletions indicate that multi-culturalism is anathema to the RSS and the powers that be. History-writing involves not only why and how the events occurred, but also what caused the events and their social, economic and political impact as well. The NCERT has removed the reference to a conspiracy behind Gandhi’s assassination, the names of those involved in his murder, the ban on the RSS imposed by Sardar Patel and so on. The whole exercise is meant to exonerate Nathuram Godse and boost the image of the RSS and Savarkar. Further, the deletion of the chapter on ‘industrial revolution’ is attributed to the notion that the industrial revolution did not originate in the West and we had been vishwaguru much before. History is based on credible sources of information. Rationalisation can be done by adding new writings, but wiping out Mughal history from 1526 to 1857 reeks of historical myopia. History cannot be wiped out in this crude way.

Prem Singh Dahiya, Rohtak

May distract students

The multi-disciplinary approach of pursuing a mixed study of science, commerce and arts subjects at XI and XII level will deprive students pursuing science stream of adequate time. It will also divert their attention from the main science subjects. This approach offering broad-based education should be restricted to Class X. Study of science, technology and engineering is a part of general education which prepares a person for banking, managerial, service and administrative jobs in the government or private sectors. At the primary stage, students have a greater proclivity for picking up new languages. Therefore, teaching of English must start from that stage. The significance of online education has not been adequately dealt with in the NCF draft.

Lt Col GS Bedi (Retd), Mohali

Lost legislative hours

The just-concluded Budget Session had low productivity as the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for a significant period of time. The Lok Sabha had a productivity rate of 34.38%, functioning for only 45 hours out of the scheduled 133.6 hours, while the Rajya Sabha worked for just over 31 hours out of 130 hours, with a productivity rate of around 24%. The adjournments resulted in a significant loss of money for the country — estimated to be around Rs 2,814 crore. The loss of legislative time due to adjournments can have a significant impact on the functioning of the government and the passage of important Bills and laws, making it crucial for MPs to prioritise the efficient utilisation of legislative time.

Amarjeet kumar, by mail

Gender parity in Army

Refer to the news that at least 10% women officers will be inducted into the Army’s artillery units; it is good that the government is moving towards gender parity. The decision is in line with the government’s policy of increasing the participation of women in the armed forces. The move will provide women with greater opportunities to serve in combat roles and contribute to the country’s defence. It also reflects a shift in the Army’s approach towards gender equality and inclusivity. It will inspire other countries to follow suit and make similar efforts towards gender equality in their own armed forces.

Ganga Arora, Rajpura

Importance of degree

The Delhi L-G has slammed comments by CM Arvind Kejriwal over the academic qualifications of PM Modi, saying that degrees are not a proof of a person’s intelligence and humility. If we take these words on face value, why do government and private institutions offer jobs only on the basis of degrees? Moreover, the question is not merely about the PM’s degree, but the correctness of the affidavit he had filed before the Election Commission claiming that he was a postgraduate. As per rules, giving wrong information in an affidavit results in disqualification. Modi is vocal about criticism of his opponents almost daily, but becomes mute whenever questions are pointed towards him. This does create doubts in the public’s mind.

Bhupinder Kochhar, Panchkula

Academic priorities

Refer to ‘No function during college hours, college principal told’; it is essential for students to have undisturbed learning environment during college hours, and thus, it is important to avoid functions during this time. Attending functions, parties, or events can cause students to miss important lectures, assignments, or group projects, which can negatively impact their grades and overall academic performance. These social gatherings can be noisy and distracting, making it difficult for students to stay focused on their studies. It is crucial for students to prioritise their academic commitments.

Anisha Gupta, Lucknow

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