A bunch of writers have resigned from State authorities committees and our bodies in protest in opposition to the latest controversy over textbook revision, lack of motion in opposition to the textbook overview committee chairperson Rohith Chakrathirtha, who allegedly defamed Kuvempu.
Writers S.G. Siddaramaiah, who was president of Rashtrakavi Dr. G.S. Shivarudrappa Pratishthana; H.S. Raghavendra Rao, Nataraja Budalu, and Chandrashekhar Nangli wrote to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai resigning from their posts on Monday. “The recent unconstitutional attack and oppression in education, cultural, and political spheres of the State has left us concerned. The government’s silence and lack of action on those who have been openly inciting communal hatred undermining the State and federal structure has left us anxious and scared,” the letter stated, citing the explanation for his or her resignation.
Senior author and scholar Hampa Nagarajaiah additionally resigned as president of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishthana, citing lack of motion in opposition to individuals who’ve made defamatory statements in opposition to Kuvempu and the State anthem. “Since the government has not only not taken any action against people who have defamed Kuvempu and the anthem, but since they have been made members of the official committee, it sends a wrong signal to people,” he stated within the letter to the Chief Minister. Prof. Siddaramaiah has additionally written to Minister for Primary and Secondary Education B.C. Nagesh and withdrawn permission for the inclusion of his poem “Manegelasada Hudugi” at school IX second language Kannada textbook.
Noted educationist V.P Niranjanaradhya has turned down an invitation from the State authorities to honour him for his work on National Education Policy-2020. “The State government has resorted to communalise and saffronise education and in this process, no curriculum framework, constitutional values and education policy have been followed. Since this exercise and the programme to which I am invited both are led by the Education Minister, I stand by the constitutional values and boycott it,” he wrote in response to the invite.
Meanwhile, a number of progressive writers and advocates held a protest within the metropolis on Monday. Prominent advocates A.P. Ranganath, C.H. Hanumantharaya, and others participated within the protest and demanded that the Mr. Chakrathirtha-led textbook overview committee be scrapped and textbooks finalised by Baraguru Ramachandrappa committee be restored. They additionally demanded that Mr. Chakrathirtha be booked and arrested for defaming Kuvempu and the State anthem. Vatal Nagaraj took out a procession from Mysore Bank Circle with a big portrait of Kuvempu in a chariot taking part in the State anthem, demanding motion in opposition to Mr. Chakrathirtha.
Mahesh Joshi, president, Kannada Sahitya Parishat, additionally demanded motion in opposition to those that have defamed Kuvempu and the anthem.
Protests set to accentuate
Protests in opposition to the textbook revision committee and its chairman Rohith Chakrathirtha are all set to solely intensify. A coalition of progressive college students organisations will maintain a protest rally at Freedom Park on Tuesday demanding the annulment of the textbook overview committee led by Rohith Chakrathirtha and the resignation of Minister B.C. Nagesh. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike has additionally organised a protest rally on Tuesday demanding that the federal government rejects all revision carried out by Mr. Chakrathirtha-led committee and that he have to be booked and arrested for defaming the State anthem.
Source: www.thehindu.com
