Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 06:
The Democratic Students' Association of Manipur has found certain objectionable errors in the Hindi text book (Apoorva Bhag III) prescribed by the NCERT for Class VIII students, especially with reference to Rani Gaidinliu and Haipou Jadonang.
Speaking to newsmen at its office at Keishampat today, general secretary of the student body, PC Newton said that lesson number 15 of the said textbook referred to Rani Gaidinliu and Haipou Jadonang as being born in Nagaland.
Gaidinliu is ever referred to as the Rani of Nagaland in the text book, he said.
There is no record anywhere in Manipur which says that Rani Gaidinliu was from Nagaland, said Newton and added that it was only that she spent the latter parts of her life in Nagaland.
Pointing out other errors in the text book, the student leader said the date of birth of the Rani which was given as January 26, 1915 is also wrong.
On the other hand associating Jadonang with Nagaland in the text book is also factually wrong, he maintained.
Setting the record straight, DESAM said that Jadonang was born in Kambirong village in Tamenglong district in 1905.He took up the cause of the Zeliangrong people, who were subjected to tremendous hardships by the British rulers, he recalled.
Moreover the text book has also erroneously painted Jadonang and Gaidinliu as brother and sister, said Newton.
The reference on Gaidinliu and Jadonang has been compiled without any research work by the NCERT and this misinformation is being taught in the text book prescribed all over the country, he said.
Taking the NCERT to task, the student leader said that it is more than clear that certain vested interest have had their way while writing and composing the text book adding that political motive behind presenting such an erroneous story cannot be ruled out.
During the last few years, the Central Government has been trying to influence the decision of choosing the text books to be taught to the school children, said Newton and added that DESAM is in the process of minutely checking the text books prescribed by NCERT.