‘Alcoholic’ Sambhaji and ‘Mad’ Tukaram? Textbooks Withdrawn By  Maharashtra Government Over Objectionable Content

The Maharastra state government has permanently withdrawn two books that were part of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for alleged objectionable content material on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, and Sant Tukaram, reports The Indian Express.

The Maharashtra State Council of Education, Research and Training (Academic Authority) issued a circular withdrawing the two books given to students in government-run schools under the Ekbhashik Purak Wachan Pustak Yojana of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

The books were on temporary suspension. Other books supplied under the scheme are temporarily put on hold by the state education department as a review committee reviews the books.

Samarth Shri Ramdas Swami, one among the two books written by Shubha Sathe and published by Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training (MSCERT) has a mention of Sambhaji Maharaj addicted to alcohol and having a bad company.

Santache Jeevan Prasang, authored by Gopinath Talwalka is reported to have objectionable mention of Sant Tukaram and his wife. DNA reports that the book mentioned Tukaram's wife being a woman of a short temper who used foul and abusive language while speaking to people. The author added that she even called her husband, the saint, a mad person.

The Maharashtra education department had appointed a three-member expert committee and put the books under temporary suspension after sharp criticism from the opposition parties, the Sambhaji Brigade and other outfits.

"The books have been withdrawn after an expert committee found objectionable content in the material." Sunil Magar, Director of the Maharashtra Academic Authority said in a press release.