Panel to decide if Maharana Pratap or Akbar was greater

Following strong objections from the minority community, the state Education Department has constituted a committee to decide who was a great ruler: Maharana Pratap or Emperor Akbar.

On the basis of the committee’s recommendation, the state government will introduce new chapters in the syllabus in schools and colleges.

Earlier, the government had announced replacing the biography of Akbar with those of heroes like Maharana Pratap in text books. 

It was the second decision of the kind by the state government after making Surya Namaskar and yoga sessions compulsory in all schools, which invited strong objections from the Muslim community. 

“We have constituted a committee which will decide the greatness among Akbar and Maharana Pratap,” said Minister for Higher Education Kali Charan Saraf.“The committee will give its report, on basis of which the syllabus will be changed,” the minister said.

New chaptersInitially, the Education Department had decided to introduce five new chapters on Maharana Pratap, Veer Durgadas, Veer Savarkar, Maharaj Surajmal and Hemu Kalani in all schools and colleges.

At the same time, the government also announced its decision to remove chapters on Akbar and some other personalities. According to state government ministers, new chapters will help students to know about their history and it will develop a sense of patriotism among them.

A month ago, School Education Minister Vasu Devnani had said, “In order to become a responsible citizen with a feeling of patriotism, the knowledge of Indian culture and ethics is important. There is no dearth of heroes and great personalities in India. Then why kids are bound to learn about foreign rulers and personalities like Akbar?”

Knowing about Aryabhatta and Bhaskaracharya is much more important than studying the achievement of foreign scientists, he added. The statement had sparked controversy and invited objections from the minority community. Three months back, similar objections were raised on compulsory implementation of Surya Namaskar and yoga classes in schools. The minority community was of the view that the sun is not treated as a god in their religion so why should their kids perform Surya Namaskar. 

Those objections were overruled and Surya Namaskar was implemented in schools. But this time the government has constituted a committee to decide between Emperor Akbar and Maharana Pratap.

However, the minority community has alleged that the Education Department is working on the directions of the RSS and the committee will give its decision accordingly.