Karnataka: Amid Textbook Row, Minister Orders Removal Of Poem By Dalit Writer

There were allegations that the "Nali-Kali" section of the textbook, meant for compulsory co-curricular learning, has been hurting religious beliefs with its controversial content.

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New Delhi: Amid the ongoing row over revision of textbooks in Karnataka, the ruling BJP has ordered to exclude a poem by a famous Dalit writer that says that the sun and moon are not gods, news agency IANS reported. According to the report, state education minister BC Nagesh has ordered to drop the poem "Bhoomi" by late poet Siddalingaiah, from the textbooks of Class 4, sources said on Saturday.

Notably, the decision comes in the wake of several complaints received against the poem for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.

The poem was incorporated in the syllabus by the Textbook Revision Committee headed by Baraguru Ramachandrappa during the rule of the Congress.

It is to be noted that the Textbook Revision Committee formed by the BJP government, headed by Rohith Chakrathirtha, did not revise this textbook.

There were allegations that the "Nali-Kali" section of the textbook, meant for compulsory co-curricular learning, has been hurting religious beliefs with its controversial content.

The panel also kept another controversial line reading religious mutts are “cheating traps”, sources in the education department stated.

The poem further says that no one has seen the 'aatma' (spirit) of the God, and that Shastras and Puranas are a bunch of lies. It also read that the palace and the abode of the guru are traps too.

Following a huge backlash, the Karnataka government has announced revision of the controversial aspects of the syllabus revised by the Rohith Chakrathirtha-led committee.

According to the report, the panel has revised Kannada textbooks from Class 1 to 10, and the social science textbooks of Class 6 to 10.