By Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 15: Hindu Right wing organization has claimed that the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has decided to delete objectionable part from the NCERT’s controversial standard VII text book.
 
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a Goa and Maharashtra based organisation, had launched statewide agitations from March 13, 2009 onwards against the textbook condemning the injustice meted out to great Maratha worrior, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
 
“The G B S & H S E has taken cognizance of this agitation and decided to change two whole chapters glorifying Mughals from the said textbook,” Jayesh Thali, Convenor, HJS, has said in a press statement here.
 
Quoting reliable sources in the Goa board, he added that "likewise, it has decided to incorporate the local history in place of the same. The objectionable matter in other chapters of the said book is also going to be removed."
 
The GBSHSE officers were not available for the comment as they were busy in the higher secondary education results to be declared today.
 
Thali said that the N C E R T has made a fleeting mention of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the history text book for Std VII, thereby according negligible position to him.
 
“The HJS along with like minded organisations, parents and teachers had launched an agitation against the said textbook from March 13, 2009,” he said.
 
He said that the board has decided to change two whole chapters glorifying Mughals from the said text. 
 
Justifying their agitation, Thali said that of the 154 pages of the history text book of Std. VII, most of the pages have been dedicated to the information on Mughals and other Muslim kings who had invaded Hindustan, whereas the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who fought the foreign Mughal aggressors and established Hindu state has been concluded in just four lines.
 
“Not only this, the books contain pictures of kings of 16th century like Babar, Akbar etc. but there is not a single picture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who ruled in the 17th century. This shows that Shivaji Maharaj has been relegated to an insignificant position in the book,” he said.
 
Again strangely, the name of Maharana Pratap also does not figure in the Rajput history. Also, the local history has not been included inspite of this being mandatory, Thali added.
 
"Thus, the HJS and other likeminded organizations had staged an agitation to demand immediate withdrawal of this book from the curriculum,” he stated.
 
“As a part of this agitation, various constitutional measures such as holding taluka level meetings, submitting memorandums, staging demonstrations and rallies and others were adopted,” the HJS said.