Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)

Bantwal, Nov 11: The Education department of the state made major blunder in the circular that was displayed on its official website on November 6 asking the Constitution Day of India to be celebrated on November 26. However, as soon as it came to know about the controversy the circular would create, it has removed the circular from its website.

The education department of the state is making frequent errors in circulars and orders due to the irresponsible behaviour of its officers. This time around, the circular had such order, which looked like they are up in arms against the architect of Indian Constitution Dr B R Ambedkar. However, fearing the backlash by supports of Ambedkar, the circular is withdrawn from its website within three days of publishing the same.

The Education department displayed a circular on its official website on November 6 asking all the schools in the state to celebrate Constitution Day of India on November 26. In addition, it had uploaded a guidance handbook attachment giving details of how to celebrate the Constitution Day this year. It also asked the educational institutions to download the guidance handbook and use it according to the instructions given in it.

The 48 page guidance handbook had major blunders in it. It was published in both Kannada as well as English language.

The handbook said, "The proposal of the constitution of India should be read and understood during the prayer time of the school. Essay writing and quiz competitions should be held to make the students understand the main features of our constitution. Play cards to be displayed in school that depict freedom, justice, secularism, equality and harmony. In addition, the circular also asked to conduct painting competition on the topic 'Constitution in My Daily Life'. A script of short drama was also given to organize a short drama in every school on the constitution.

If the above were the only points in the guidance handbook it would have been okay to follow. However, the points mentioned directly and clearly on page number 5, 10, 12 and 18 of the handbook are the ones, which had unforgivable blunders. It said, "Dr B R Ambedkar is the not the only person, who has written the constitution of India. Our constitution is result of collective efforts of many men and women belonging to various religions, castes and tribal communities of our country. Several issues, discussions, difference of opinions and changes have taken places during the formation of our constitution."

One page it is mentioned, "Many of us do not know that our constitution was created by a team, which had many people and was called as Constitutional Drafting Committee."

At another place in the guidance handbook it is mentioned, "The job of Dr B R Ambedkar was to prepare the final draft after reading the write ups of constitution of various committees and he was the president of the Constitution Drafting Committee."

All these blunders were directly insulting Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of our constitution. Many in the educational institutions, who had downloaded and read the guidance handbook had expressed their rage to the education department for writing in a demeaning manner about Dr B R Ambedkar. Voices were also raised saying that these blunders are an attempt to fill the minds of young children with negative points about Dr B R Ambedkar.

The guidance handbook was prepared by a private organization called CMCA. As the head teachers of the respective schools in the state started downloading the circular, a democratic voice was heard at the state level.

Progressive thinkers who are in the forefront in fight for pro-development like Bidar Shyamsundar, Dr Dwarakanath, Umashankar, Mahadevaswamy, Jnanaprakasha Swamiji, former mayor of Mysuru Purushotam, Dr Krishnamurthy Chamaram, Dr Vittal Doddamani, Renuka Singhe, BSP state president Krishnamurthy, Jayachandraand H R Mahisha voiced their protest against the derogatory points mentioned in the guidance handbook about Dr Ambedkar and prepared for a protest against the education department. In addition, MLA Priyanka Kharge also discussed at department level about the blunder.

As the pro-Ambedkar activists were making the outline for the protest against the education department, the circular got disappeared from the website of the education department. An information saying that "Circular no 632 is withdrawn on November 9" is being displayed on the website of the education department. However, the website does not give any update with regards to the amendment, if any, will be done to the published guidance handbook.

Minister for primary and secondary education Suresh Kumar said, "Instructions are given to make suitable amendments to the objectionable instructions that were given in the circular on the celebration of Constitution Day of India. The controversial circular is withdrawn. Instructions have been given to take action on those who prepared the circular and the guidance handbook."

In his statement on the controversy, thinker and social activist Dr Krishnamurthy Chamaram Mysuru said, "The motto of celebrating Constitutional Day in schools is welcome. However, the ulterior motive behind this celebration should be dropped off. This is the beginning of the plot hatched by the central government to remove Dr B R Ambedkar from the making of the constitution of the country. It is trying to do the same through the state government.

"The model handbook that is taken out on this campaign needs to be withdrawn immediately. The literature which tries to blacken the face of Dr B R Ambedkar needs to be changed. Dr B R Ambedkar is the architect of our Constitution. Many eminent leaders of the time have clearly mentioned in the Constituent Assembly Debates books, which are in the parliament that the great Constitution of India was created only because of the solo effort of Dr B R Ambedkar. Dr Babu Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India, himself has approved the same.

"But the Manuvadi government is time and again insulting the architect of our constitution and also the integrity of India. This has to be condemned with one voice. Pressure has to be put to object this move right from the gram panchayat member to the Member of Parliament.

"The government has to take the suggestions and instructions of thinkers, experts and freedom fighters when creating such awareness literature."