Historian points out howlers in PSEB Class XII textbook

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 3

The errors in the PSEB Class XII book highlight the poor translation of Sikh history and presents poor knowledge of Sikh ethos, terminology, heritage and strictures, says Sikh scholar Kuldeep Singh Dheer.

Talking to The Tribune here on Thursday, he said Mir Manu had exterminated Sikhs and better words in both Punjabi and English are available to describe these events, which are important parts of Sikh heritage and history. “The usage of improper words indicates the shallow understanding of Sikhism and these being part of school textbooks is fraught with danger of giving a wrong meaning while teaching about the religion,” he said.

The controversy over the matter had erupted last week after SADleader Daljit Singh Cheema wrote to the CM, pointing out “deletion” of 20 chapters from the textbooks. The government has been defending this, saying that the history syllabus was being realigned to NCERT syllabus.

But as the new textbook was circulated, the apparent mistakes in the book, with regards to dates, references to historical figures and incorrect usage of words while referring to several aspects of Sikhism, have come to light, giving more political fodder to Opposition parties. The Akali Dal has said that other than chapters on Sikh history going missing from the books, the mistakes were not minor.

SAD, BJP leaders to call on Governor

Chandigarh: The SAD on Thursday issued an ultimatum to CM Capt Amarinder Singh to “immediately issue orders to stop the conspiracy to eliminate the history and heritage of the Khalsa Panth or face a worldwide popular resistance movement by the Sikh community”. SAD and BJP leaders will call on the Governor on Friday to request him to intervene and ensure that the teaching of history to schoolchildren of Classes XI and XII continues in the same exhaustive pattern as before. TNS

Gurdwara panel sees conspiracy

Patiala: Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Thursday said the deletion of Sikh history from Class XII syllabus could be a part of a bigger conspiracy. He said people with anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab attitude have done this mischief and they would not let their motives take shape. TNS

• Bhagat Singh, the great martyr and youth icon, is referred to as one who murdered, committed dacoity and looted banks, on Page 132, in the newly published history book for Class XII students of Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).

• The Komagatu Maru incident, on page 174 of the book, tells us that the ship sailed from Hong Kong in 1924 for Vancouver in Canada, and after the disembarkation of the passengers was disallowed, it sailed off the coast of Canada to reach Kolkata in 1914! 

• The anointment of Sikh Gurus, the concept of “Gur Gaddi saunpna” in Sikhism, in a chapter dealing with Guru Nanak Dev proclaiming Guru Angad Dev as the next Sikh Guru, is referred to in the book as “niyukti” (appointment). In Sikhism, the philosophy of Gur Gaddi was initiated by Guru Nank Dev, while proclaiming Guru Angad Dev as the next guru. An insensitive word (fahe laya) has been used in the book for the martyrdom of Sikhs at the hands of Mir Manu, who was a Mughal governor. The Sikhs consider this incident as martyrdom.