Arjun conspiracy theory: Now it’s Gandhian thoughts

First the Mahatma and now the Mahatma’s thoughts. Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh today used the 51st convocation at the Gujarat Vidyapi...

First the Mahatma and now the Mahatma’s thoughts. Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh today used the 51st convocation at the Gujarat Vidyapith to tell students how ‘‘communal elements had conspired to kill Gandhian thoughts and principles after killing the Mahatma’’.

Stating that he had accepted the invitation to speak at the convocation only because ‘‘it was my duty to tell students about the conspiracy’’, he exhorted the students to beware of ‘‘active communal forces’’ and, quoting Jawaharlal Nehru, said: ‘‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’’.

‘‘Students carry a lot of responsibility and therefore

they have to be vigilant,’’ he added.

Story continues below this ad

Singh alleged that the previous government had deliberately removed from the first page of the NCERT books, the preamble of the Constitution in 2000. ‘‘It’s necessary to discover the people who are afraid of the Constitution’s preamble and why are they afraid of it?’’ he said. He also termed the removal of Gandhi’s death from textbooks as ‘‘manipulation of history’’. ‘‘I’m quite upset over the issue,’’ he said, adding such changes were prompted by the same ideology.

	1991 textbook transformed image

			• The “glorified” image of Hitler first appeared in textbooks published in 1991 when the Janata Dal (G) Government supported by Congress was in power. A former lecturer, who translated the original English text in 1991, says, ‘‘We wanted to convey to the students that after a period of hardships, the Germans saw in Hitler someone who brought order and instilled a sense of dignity in the country.’’

He devoted his 20-minute speech to attacking ‘‘elements who divide people in the name of religion, caste, language and region. It is due to these communal forces that the land of Gandhi witnessed one of the most heinous crimes, which forced the people of this coutry to hang their heads in shame. This is the place where Hitler is glorified instead of Gandhi’’.

Later, answering a question over the ‘‘tampering’’ of NCERT books, he said an advisory committee had been set up to give its recommendations. A meeting of all state education ministers will be held on October 28-29 on the issue, he said. Though he did not announce any scheme for Gujarat Vidyapith, he said his government wanted to strengthen such institutions and make them more vibrant and not keep them as ‘‘just monuments’’.