As 'poribortan' was expected in West Bengal with the coming of Mamta Banarjee as a chief minister in power, but the latest move to change in the state history syllabus has unleashed a protest by the left. Even Trinamul Congress coalition partner in WB Congress too is busy in criticising the govt. move.
It is noted that during the erstwhile Left Front rule, some political observers and educationists had protested that the history syllabus was "overloaded" with Marx, Engels and the Bolshevik revolution to brainwash students with Marxist ideologies
A new syllabus review committee has been formed under Avik Majumdar to trim the over presence of Marxism in history textbooks for the Higher Secondary students. Aim is to give space the new relevant topics. The 19-member committee will submit its recommendations to the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education next week.
Of course committee claims that it has been trying draft a new "balanced, unbiased and pluralistic" history syllabus by cutting out "excesses" on Marxism, its move has sparked the left leaders.
CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat warned that students and parents would "give a befitting reply" to the state government's move.
Veteran Marxist and former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee also slammed the move, dubbing it "wrong and a controversial decision".
On the other side, Avik Majumdar has denied the charges that it's a wrong step. He said that Marxism would be there, but where it had relevance. We have not any allergy to Marxism but textbooks are not a tool to brainwash students with a particular political ideology, he added.
(With inputs from IANS)
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