Citing quality checks, Rajasthan recalls 4 school books; Oppn flags chapter on Godhra

One of the recalled books, ‘Adrishya log – Umeed aur Sahas ki Kahaniyan’, has a chapter based on the 2002 burning of a train in Godhra and the subsequent riots. Another book, ‘Jeevan Ki Bahar’, has a chapter detailing the mating process of animals. Posting clippings of Hindi newspaper reports regarding both these books, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra called for an investigation.

In a post on X, Dotasra said Sunday, “Who is responsible for spreading hatred, spreading poison and teaching indecent language in the name of education in Rajasthan? Education Minister Madan Dilawar is pressuring officials and spending Rs 30 crore of public money to buy books against the rules so that hatred can be spread among children.” He called on Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to “investigate this material being distributed to children and take action”.

The Rajasthan School Education Council, in an order on October 21, directed all District Education Officers to recall all copies of four books – ‘Jeevan Ki Bahar’ and ‘Chitti Ek Kutta Aur Uska Jungle Farm’ for classes 9-12, as well as ‘Adrishya log – Umeed or Sahas ki Kahaniyan’ for classes 11-12 and another edition of ‘Jeevan Ki Bahar’ for classes 11-12.

The order directed that principals should collect copies of these books from students and submit them to their respective block-level offices. It said this was for “GSM testing” – a check to determine the quality of the paper and printing.

The books were published by Bhopal-based Eklavya Foundation.

Responding to queries by The Indian Express, Manoj Nigam, executive officer at Eklavya Foundation, said, “In response to the public tender issued by the Rajasthan Education Department, 20 books of Eklavya Publications were proposed following all the terms and conditions of the tender. The selection committee constituted by the department selected three books out of the 20 and gave the purchase order… As per the purchase order given by the department, the books were supplied in August 2024. Since then, Eklavya Publications has not received any official information from the Education Department.”

Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar and officials of the Education department did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment.

In the book titled ‘Adrishya Log’, a chapter titled ‘Nau Lambe Saal (Nine Long Years)’ talks of the 2002 Godhra train burning and subsequent riots, noting that three suspects spent nine years in prison before being acquitted. The chapter also alleges that after the train burning, undercover police officers raided an area arresting 14 young men without offering an explanation to their families.

Responding to the order recalling the books, Congress’s Tika Ram Jully, the Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly, said, “Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma ji should reveal the real reason for recalling the book. This book is a poignant portrayal of the pain of those missing children and their families who have become victims of communal violence. Has this book, along with other books, been withdrawn under pressure of some letter or rebuke received from Delhi?”

– With PTI