The debate about Tipu Sultan is not new. The BJP and right-wing organizations have objections to the glorification of Tipu Sultan. Conflict has been seen between the Congress and the BJP in the matter of celebrating the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan. Some describe Tipu Sultan as a patriot and some as a communal ruler. The BJP and Bajrang Dal are seen in opposition to Tipu because they say that he fought against the Marathas. Now when there was talk of removing Tipu Sultan Sultan from Karnataka’s curriculum, Education Minister BC Nagesh clarified that there is no such idea.
He said that only that part will be removed from the books where fictional things have been written. This statement has come after a day before the textbook review committee’s report has talked about the change in syllabus and especially the change in the subject of Tipu Sultan. The Education Minister said that those things which have historical evidence should be told to the children. Tipu Sultan’s topic will not be removed from the syllabus.
He said that the name by which Tipu Sultan is called will be removed from the books. We want children to know the real history. If evidence is found that Tipu Sultan was the ‘Lion of Mysore’, his title will survive. The glorifying part will be removed.
Let us tell you that the controversy about Tipu Sultan is that one faction says that Tipu fought against the British and contributed to the independence of the country. On the other hand, right-wing organizations say that he was a communal ruler and got many Hindus killed. After the order of the government, the committee headed by Rohit Chakratirth has submitted the report. According to officials, the Committee has said that the topic of Tipu Sultan should remain, while those where the ruler has been glorified, it should be dropped.
This committee was given the task of reviewing the social science syllabus from class 6 to 10 by the government. Chakratirtha is known as a right-wing thinker. The Congress alleges that making him the head of the committee is an attempt by the BJP to saffronise it. Let us inform that in the year 2015, the Siddaramaiah government started celebrating Tipu Sultan’s birth anniversary but it was stopped after the BJP government came to power. When the syllabus was reduced during the Corona period, the lesson of Tipu Sultan was removed from the class 7 book. Although classes 6 and 10 still include this lesson.