The ICSE book which is at the heart of the controversy 
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Shivram Rajguru
(Picture source: Mumbai Mirror, May 06, 2006)
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Shivram Rajguru mentioned as Terrrorists in ICSE book
Freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev have been referred to as terrorists in a textbook of ICSE syllabus, the Maharashtra Legislative Council was informed on Tuesday.
"We will write to the Central government and lodge our protest," Minister of State for School Education Hasan Mushrif said during question hour.
Offences against the concerned author and publisher would be registered and cases filed within a month, the minister said in a reply to a query by Sudha Joshi and Sanjay Dutt (both Congress).
Joshi said the chapter titled `Revival of terrorism' in the 10th class book of ICSE referred the trio as terrorists.
The minister said the chapter would be expunged. Orders to the effect would be issued on Tuesday itself, he said.
The state government would also set up an independent machinery to check ICSE board syllabus, he said. The government has taken the issue seriously, he added.
(Source: Hindustan Times, June, 2006)
Bhagat Singh, Rajguru were freedom fighters, not terroristsReference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/14995-bhagat-singh-comp-terrorists-icse-book.html Parents of students up in arms against the "error" in ICSE book, say don't equate patriotism with terrorism Manoj R Nair
Parents of ICSE students have objected to the description of the revolutionary activities of freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev as terrorism in the latest edition of Standard X text book for history.
Though the chapter that describes their disagreement with Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent struggle does call them martyrs, parents are angry with the chapter's title "Revival of Terrorism" Martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
One of the parents said he has taken up the matter with the school, in this case Jamnabai Narsee in Juhu. Freedom fighters and terrorists are two different things. I feel the school should not use this version of history. The title is objectionable, he said.
The book Total History and Civics is published by a Delhi-based publisher, Morning Star. However, an official from the publisher said they have not received any complaints about the book.
Arundhati Chavan, president of the Parents Teachers Association United Forum, said that many parents are yet to notice the error in the text book. They will realise the problem only when schools reopen in June. Patriotism cannot be portrayed as terrorism, she said.
Writer Kamlesh Pandey, who wrote the story for the recent Bollywood blockbuster Rang De Basanti based on the lives of the three revolutionaries, said he did not agree with the description in the text book. It is idiotic to call them terrorists. The book seems to have been written for European and not Indian children. For India, the three revolutionaries are patriots. It is true they did not agree with Gandhi's idea of non-violent struggle. But they did what they thought was right, he said.
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE programme, said that it could not anything about the problem since it does not prescribe text books. The books are chosen by the schools and we have nothing to do with the text books. If parents find anything objectionable with the books, they should take up the matter with the school, said Rita Wilson, deputy secretary of CISCE.
Dr Harish Shetty, a child psychologist, said that though the quality of books recommended for ICSE is much better than SSC books, one problem was that ICSE Board allows schools to choose their own text books. Many schools, therefore use, books printed by private publishers.
Educationists say that this system has both advantages and disadvantages. Earlier, parents had also protested against ICSE English language text books that gave bawdy interpretations of verses in Shakespeare's plays. Around 30 schools in the city follow the ICSE system.
"The mistake in the history book could be inadvertent," said Shetty.
"Unfortunately, history in India has become the victim of ideology. The leftists and the rightists have different views about historical events. The job of history is to inform and inspire", he said.
A HISTORY LESSON
Members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), established in 1924 by revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, were inspired by revolutionary movements in Russia, China and other countries. They were unhappy with Gandhi's idea of a non-violent struggle. The HSRA was named in several cases including the Kakori Conspiracy Case where money was looted from a train on August 9, 1925; the bombing of the Assembly chamber in Delhi on April 8, 1929 and the murder of Saunders, the English officer who had ordered the lathi-charge that led to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.
"It is idiotic to call them terrorists. The book seems to have been written for European and not Indian children. For India, these three are patriots"
Kamlesh Pandey, who wrote Rang De Basanti
(Source: Mumbai Mirror, May 06, 2006)
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Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=14995
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