Will textbooks cover it?

Atrocities by Razakars

• Turmoil in Legislative Council over the issue
• Govt bid to pass them as ‘certain mistakes’
• But, it will glorify Nizam rule, T martyrs
• Books may be silent on exploitation by landlords
• Congress condemns provocation by Ministers

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government on Tuesday refused to provide a clarity on a pointed question as to whether the school textbooks in the new state would tell about the atrocities committed by Razakars in Telangana at the behest of Nizam.

The issue came up for discussion in the State Legislative Council in the context of the State government initiating the process of reviewing school text books.

Replying to a question, Minister for Education G Jagadeeshwar Reddy said that the revised school text books would feature the glorious rule of Qutub Shahis, Asaf Jahis and the Nizams.

The text books would also cover the sacrifices made by martyrs like Komaram Bheem, Doddi Komaraiah etc. at the altar of their struggle against “certain mistakes” of the then rulers. Prof K Nageshwar (Independent) alleged that the government lacked a sense of proportion in teaching history to the school children. He wondered how the government can dismiss the oppressive feudal regime patronised by the Nizam, as “certain mistakes”. He strongly criticised the government for glorifying the Nizam rule and belittling the enormity of the atrocities committed during that regime.

The Minister evaded reply to the question on covering the feudal exploitation let loose on the Telangana masses by the Nizam and the landlords.

The TRS already faces criticism for glorifying Nizam for the sake of vote-bank politics. The government’s reply has further reinforced this perception. This debate led to acrimony in the Legislative Council.

Leader of Opposition D Srinivas and TDP Floor leader A Narsa Reddy lamented that the government was suppressing the voice of members. They said that the ministers were resorting to unnecessary provocation.