RSS leaders meet education minister Smriti Irani, seek revamp of India's education system

via India Today:

RSS leaders meet Smriti Irani, seek revamp of India's education system
IndiaToday.in New Delhi, October 30, 2014

Senior functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS met Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday to seek a revamp of India's education system.

The leaders from the RSS, which is the parent body of the ruling BJP, reportedly discussed the Indian education system with Irani and made suggestions. Senior RSS leaders Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosabale were part of the meeting with the HRD minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and a host of Union ministers and chief ministers in the BJP-ruled states are former members of the RSS, which otherwise denies participating in active politics.

The RSS has been accused of pursuing its Hindutva agenda through changes in history and other textbooks published by the central and state governments. Earlier this week, the RSS held its first meeting with senior central ministers for better coordination with the BJP-led government.

RSS affiliates, such as the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti founder Dinanath Batra, have called for changes in the curriculum to better reflect Indian values. Modi's home state Gujarat has already made Batra's books compulsory in schools, leading to massive criticism by academics and other experts.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, considered close to the RSS, has also proposed a new national school board to "Indianise" the education system and is reportedly hoping to get Modi's backing for the idea.

The proposed Bharatiya Board of Secondary Education or BBSE aims to offer a blend of traditional gurukul system with modern education in allow the schools affiliated to the proposed board.enior functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS met Union Human Resources Development Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday to seek a revamp of India’s education system.

The leaders from the RSS, which is the parent body of the ruling BJP, reportedly discussed the Indian education system with Irani and made suggestions. Senior RSS leaders Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosabale were part of the meeting with the HRD minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and a host of Union ministers and chief ministers in the BJP-ruled states are former members of the RSS, which otherwise denies participating in active politics.

The RSS has been accused of pursuing its Hindutva agenda through changes in history and other textbooks published by the central and state governments. Earlier this week, the RSS held its first meeting with senior central ministers for better coordination with the BJP-led government.

RSS affiliates, such as the Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti founder Dinanath Batra, have called for changes in the curriculum to better reflect Indian values. Modi's home state Gujarat has already made Batra's books compulsory in schools, leading to massive criticism by academics and other experts.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, considered close to the RSS, has also proposed a new national school board to "Indianise" the education system and is reportedly hoping to get Modi's backing for the idea.

The proposed Bharatiya Board of Secondary Education or BBSE aims to offer a blend of traditional gurukul system with modern education in allow the schools affiliated to the proposed board.


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