Don't Club Siksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas With Sangh, Says Bengal RSS on Tagore Row

Kolkata: Days after the Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas's suggested dropping Rabindranath Tagore’s writings from National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks in West Bengal, a RSS leader has claimed SSUN is an independent body and has nothing to do with the Sangh.

Bidyut Mukherjee, Prant Pracharak of South Bengal, said the reports about SSUN’s recommendation to remove names, thoughts of Ghalib and Tagore are false. “SSUN is an independent body. Also, reports on their recommendation to remove names and thoughts of eminent personalities like Tagore ARE false and fabricated. This is an intentional attempt to club RSS and SSUN together to malign our image,” he said.

On Monday, RSS affiliate organisation Akhil Bhartiya Shikshan Mandal (ABSM) had also expressed displeasure over SSUN's suggestion.

Mukherjee also said the reports are an attempt at creating a social rift using the instrument of provincialism.”

“RSS strongly denounces such irresponsible act and also does not subscribe to the views expressed in the reports. It is the duty of all nationalist citizens to strongly oppose such malicious propaganda. SSUN will soon issue a press release with a copy of the actual recommendations sent. Till then, be united and stay patriotic,” he said in a statement.

SSUN had sent a suggestion letter to the NCERT on reviewing school textbooks of all classes. In their letter Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas – drafted by its head Dina Nath Batra - suggested to remove several topics which include few words in Urdu, Arabic, in English language.

The West Bengal government has also condemned the SSUN’s recommendation. “How can someone think of removing him Rabindranath Tagore from textbooks? He is the pride of the nation. We will fight against this move till the end,” said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien also raised the matter in Parliament. “What is going on? He wrote the national anthem! Kobiguru is a national treasure. We do not want to do politics with Rabindranath Tagore.”

Speaking to News18, Rabindranath Tagore’s distant relative Supriya Tagore, said, “This issue is something, which all Indians should protest it.”