Textbook ‘glorifies’ slain Naxal, Raman dismayed

Bhopal: A Class 10 book prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education has “glorified” slain Naxal leader M. Koteswar Rao alias Kishenji, inviting criticism from several quarters including Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh.

A chapter titled “A moral force in politics” in the book, Social Science Democratic Politics-2, published by the National Council for Education Research and Training (NCERT) for CBSE students, has dwelt on Maoists’ ideology and described the Naxal leader, killed in West Bengal on September 26, 2011 in an encounter with security forces, as the mentor of revolution being carried out by different organisations to ensure right of “jal, jungle and zameen” (water, forest and land) to local tribals.

The subject mentioned on the page number 76 of the book has also described how his leadership was hailed by activists.

The CBSE book is included in the course study of Class 10 at Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodyaya schools run by the Central government and many private schools.

Kishenji, who was wanted in several states, carried a total bounty of Rs 1.50 crore on his head.

The first edition of the book was published in 2007. The latest edition of the book carried the update in the chapter saying that Kishenji was no more.

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh expressed shock over reported glorification of the Naxal leader in the book prescribed for schools.

“We have so many luminaries in various fields who continue to inspire the society. It is a regrettable matter that a chapter is devoted on a Naxal leader,” he told reporters.