Activists have alleged that the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board is trying to diminish the importance of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, as the Class 10 textbooks for history and civics taught in the ICSE schools mentions the role of the most prominent freedom fighters in the pre and post Independence era but does not mention of Dr Ambedkar anywhere. The activists have alleged that there is some vested interest at play and the board is trying to change the ideologies of the students by not including the thoughts and contributions made by Dr Ambedkar in the nation’s Independence.
Speaking about the absence of Dr Ambedkar’s name in the history and civics textbook that are being taught in ICSE schools, Rajesh Ingale, general secretary of Mumbai northeast district Congress said, “The said history and civics textbook has references of contributions by every freedom fighter and social reformers starting with the first uprising of Independence in 1857 and concluding with the Partition of India. The civic section of the book commences with the Parliament and its composition leading all the way to modern day India. Every personality and incident of historic importance is vividly depicted in text and through drawings, sketches and photographs in this textbook. All but one person has been left out and that is Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar. There is not a single photo, sketch or drawing depicting Dr Ambedkar in the textbook. Furthermore, the entire book does not even mention his name neither in the history section nor in the civics segment,” said Mr Ingale.
He further alleged that the exclusion of Dr Ambedkar’s name from the textbook was part of a larger conspiracy by some scheming ideologies.
“The majority of Indian textbooks published by respective State Boards and CBSE are unbiased and liberal at acknowledging history, historic icons and their contribution to pre and post era of independent India. But the ICSE board seems to be experimenting with Indian history at behest of some scheming ideologies and Dr Ambedkar’s exclusion from its textbooks seems the execution of its first phase of the conspiracy,” said Mr Ingale.
However, Gerry Arathoon, CEO and secretary, CISCE, New Delhi said that the board did not recommend any change in the textbooks and the publisher was at fault. “The question of the board leaving out the name of Dr Ambedkar from the textbook does not arise as the board does not make the textbook. They are published by independent publishers and hence it is their fault,” said Mr Arathoon.
Mahesh Chandra, owner of Morning Star publication, which published the history and civics textbook, said that he was not in a position to comment on the issue.
