The revised edition of noted historian R.S. Sharma’s book on ancient history, which was withdrawn from the syllabus by the NDA government for alleged “distortion” of facts, was released today. However, former Union HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi asserted the book would not be taught in BJP-ruled states. Noted historian Irfan Habib released the new edition of Sharma’s book Prarahmbik Bharat Ka Itihas revised from the previous Prachin Bharat Ka Itihas.Sharma said the NDA government, which had reservation over his Marxist leaning had withdrawn the book, published by NCERT, from the CBSE syllabus out of “prejudice”. Habib also defended the book saying there was no distortion of facts and it was based on a lot of research work. When asked, Joshi said ‘‘it is unfortunate that a book which is full of distorted facts is being offered to the students for study.’’
