Rajasthan Education Department Orders Removal of History Textbooks
The education department of Rajasthan has issued a directive to district education officers, mandating the removal of four supplementary history textbooks from schools for the upcoming 2026-27 academic session. These books, designated as non-evaluative reading material, are intended for students in Classes 9 through 12.
Official Directive and Book Details
The order was formally issued by the social education department under the Directorate of Secondary Education. It explicitly states, "Please ensure that the aforementioned deleted books are not taught in schools during the current academic session." The specific textbooks listed for removal include:
- 'Rajasthan Ka Swatantrata Andolan Evam Shaurya Parampara' for Class 9
- 'Rajasthan Ka Itihas Evam Sanskriti' for Class 10
- 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat' Part 1 and Part 2 as reading material for Classes 11 and 12
Background and Ministerial Statement
This action follows an announcement made in July of last year by Education Minister Madan Dilawar, who declared the withdrawal of 'Azadi Ke Baad Ka Swarnim Bharat' for Classes 11-12. At that time, Dilawar cited the book's emphasis on the contributions of the Gandhi family as a primary reason for its removal. In a recent statement to the press on Thursday, Dilawar confirmed, "We had already announced that these books will not be taught in schools and orders have been issued now." However, he did not provide clarification regarding the rationale behind removing the Class 9 and 10 textbooks.
Political Controversy and Opposition Reaction
The decision has ignited significant political controversy, with State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra condemning the move as "a direct assault on history." Dotasra elaborated, "This constitutes a conspiracy to control and erase a mindset—one that deeply unsettles the RSS and the BJP in their exercise of power. By removing these books, the BJP government intends to teach an entire generation of the state only a partial and incomplete version of the truth. The BJP government must explain what specific objection it has to the books removed from classes 9-12."
He further argued that if the books contained factual inaccuracies, corrections could have been implemented instead of complete removal. Dotasra emphasized, "The act of removing the books entirely makes it abundantly clear that the true objective is not to correct, but to erase history." This statement underscores the deepening political divide over educational content and historical narrative in the state.
The removal of these textbooks raises critical questions about curriculum development, historical representation, and the intersection of education with political ideologies. As the 2026-27 academic session approaches, the implementation of this order will be closely monitored by educators, parents, and political observers across Rajasthan.
