Madhya Pradesh: State Govt’s decision to include books authored by RSS Swayamsevaks, stirs row

A recent directive from the Madhya Pradesh education department requiring colleges statewide to incorporate books authored by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Swayamsevaks into their curricula has sparked a political controversy. The Opposition Congress has condemned the move, accusing it of promoting a divisive ideology. The order mandates that all Government and private colleges in Madhya Pradesh acquire a specific set of 88 books “without delay” for inclusion in various undergraduate programs.

The books in question are authored by Swayamsevaks affiliated with Vidya Bharti, the educational wing of the RSS. Notable authors whose works have been recommended for inclusion in undergraduate courses include Suresh Soni, Dinanath Batra, D. Atul Kothari, Devendra Rao Deshmukh, and Sandeep Waslekar. The state education department’s directive instructs all colleges in Madhya Pradesh to establish a ‘Bharatiya Gyan Parampara Prakoshtha’ (Indian Knowledge Tradition Cell) to develop a strategy for incorporating these books into their undergraduate programs.

A senior officer from the State education department informed this newspaper on August 13, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the State Government’s initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The NEP strongly advocates for the integration of Indian knowledge traditions into academic curricula. However, the order to include 88 books, notably those written by Dinanath Batra, former general secretary of Vidya Bharti, has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition Congress, which views the move as contentious.

Dinanath Batra had previously opposed the inclusion of revolutionary Punjabi poet Avtar Pash’s poem ‘Sabse Khatarnaak’ in the Class 11 Hindi textbook, a stance that stirred significant debate within academic circles.

The BJP has robustly defended the initiative, asserting that it complies with all Government guidelines for developing undergraduate curricula. State BJP Secretary Rajneesh Agrawal challenged the Congress to specify any objections to the content of the books rather than dismissing them solely based on the authors’ affiliations. “The Congress is making baseless accusations without reviewing the books. Their criticism is a form of dirty politics,” Agrawal said.