Karnataka Government Mulls Adding Negative Side Of Erstwhile Mysore King Tipu In School Textbooks

The Karanataka government is mulling on teaching both “positive and negative” sides of Tipu Sultan in the school textbooks, Instead of dropping or retaining contents related to the erstwhile Mysore king, reports Deccan Herald.

However, there will be no changes in the textbooks for the academic year 2020-21.

"There will not be any changes in textbooks for coming academic year, but for future changes, we have decided to constitute a comprehensive committee to take a decision on even teaching negative face of Tipu," State Minister of Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar said on Monday (20 January).

The minister further informed that Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan had submitted several documents regarding the “negative face” of Tipu.

“There are documents submitted for incidents occurred during his ruling at Melkote, Chitradurga and Coorg (Kodagu district). We are constituting one more committee to study all these issues and decide whether Tipu is just a hero," Kumar added.

Ranjan, a BJP MLA from Madikeri constituency in Kodagu district, had three months ago submitted a representation to Minister Kumar, demanding dropping of any content of Tipu from school textbooks.

State Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, too, had supported the request by the Madikeri MLA. Following this, Minister Kumar directed Karnataka Text Books Society (KTBS) to deliberate on the matter.

The KTBS then organised a meeting with Appachu Ranjan and subject experts who prepared history textbooks.

"The expert committee has communicated to me recommending for setting up of a comprehensive committee to take a decision on the matter. They even mentioned that they prepared contents for textbooks based on the history," added Suresh Kumar.