Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 9: Ranvijay Singh, scion of the Dogra Royal Family, today strongly condemned the circulation of two books in government school libraries that allegedly contained content glorifying separatists and stone-pelting, describing the episode as a serious lapse that must be addressed with the utmost urgency.
Expressing concern over reports that the publications had reached school libraries, Ranvijay said educational institutions should nurture patriotism, national unity and constitutional values, and not become platforms for content that could mislead or influence young minds.
Notably, the two books in question are Personalities and Legends of J&K, authored by Hilal Ahmad and Santosh Meena and published by Jammu-based Oberoi Book Service, and Great Personalities of Jammu and Kashmir, authored by Sushant Giri and published by Delhi-based Anurag Prakashan. According to official information, 123 copies of one of the books were supplied to schools in Jammu, Ramban and Udhampur districts, while 128 copies of the other publication were distributed in Jammu and Baramulla districts.
Reacting to the development, Ranvijay Singh termed the inclusion of such books in school libraries "completely unacceptable" and said the incident raised serious questions about the process adopted for selecting educational material. He said no content that seeks to glorify separatism or violence should ever find a place in institutions responsible for shaping the future of the country's youth.
He appreciated the Hon'ble Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha for taking prompt action by suspending eight officials allegedly responsible for clearing the books and initiating the process of blacklisting the authors and publishers concerned. He said the administration's swift response sends a strong message that negligence in matters relating to children's education will not be tolerated.
He further stressed that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir should instead be educated about the rich history and legacy of the Dogra rulers, whose contributions played a defining role in shaping the erstwhile princely State of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the younger generation must be made aware of the vision, courage and administrative abilities of the great Dogra Maharajas, particularly Maharaja Gulab Singh and Maharaja Ranbir Singh, under whose leadership the boundaries of the erstwhile state extended up to Gilgit-Baltistan, Ladakh and other strategically significant regions.
Ranvijay Singh observed that understanding this historical legacy would help students develop a deeper appreciation of the region's civilisational heritage, national identity and the sacrifices made by previous generations in preserving the unity and integrity of the erstwhile state.
Calling for comprehensive corrective measures, he urged the Education Department to undertake a thorough review of all textbooks, supplementary reading material and reference books available in schools, colleges and public libraries across the Union Territory. He also advocated the establishment of a transparent and multi-layered vetting mechanism involving experienced educators, eminent historians and subject experts to ensure that only factually accurate, balanced and nationally responsible content reaches students.
"Our children deserve educational material that inspires knowledge, patriotism and social harmony, not content that glorifies divisive ideologies or violence," Singh said. "I stand firmly with the administration in ensuring accountability and urge that a comprehensive verification of all educational material be completed at the earliest so that such lapses are never repeated." |
