BHOPAL, Madhya Pradesh – In a move that has sparked both praise and controversy, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Madhya Pradesh lead by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has directed private colleges across the state to incorporate a list of 88 books into their curriculum, aiming to infuse students with what they term as ‘Bharatiya Gyan Parampara’ (Indian Knowledge Tradition). This initiative, aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has seen books authored by prominent figures from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliates like Vidya Bharti, becoming mandatory reading material.
The list, sent by the Higher Education Department, includes works by RSS leaders such as Suresh Soni, Dinanath Batra, D Atul Kothari, and Devendra Rao Deshmukh. Notably, 14 books are authored by Batra, reflecting a significant presence of RSS ideology in the educational framework. The move is part of setting up a ‘Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Prakoshtha’ in each college, aimed at integrating traditional Indian knowledge into undergraduate courses.
Leaders from the BJP and its Nationalist Supporters have welcomed the initiative, reasoning out that these books will foster “nation-building and patriotism.” This is seen an effort to counteract a previous bias towards left-leaning ideologies in education that Congress during its rule completely handed over to Islamists and Communists, resulting in Anti-National and Anti-Hindu Curriculum seeping into the whole education system.
The Congress and other opposition parties have criticized the decision, labeling it an attempt to indoctrinate students with so called divisive ideology. They argue that education should be free from political or ideological biases.
Posts on X (formerly Twitter) show a corresponding divide in public opinion. Supporters of the move see it as a step towards cultural education and nationalism, while critics view it as an overreach of political ideology into educational spaces. Some users celebrate the inclusion of these texts for promoting cultural awareness, while others express concern over the potential for indoctrination.
This directive not only reshapes the educational content in Madhya Pradesh but also reflects a broader trend where cultural and traditional knowledge is being woven into educational frameworks across India.
The Madhya Pradesh government’s decision to mandate these books in college curricula has ignited a debate on the role of education in nation-building versus its independence from political ideologies. As colleges begin to implement this directive, the impact on students’ educational experience and the broader societal discourse on education policy will unfold in the coming academic sessions. This initiative, aimed at enriching students with cultural heritage, is a long pending welcome move and must be replicated across all states in India.
