CHANDIGARH – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has urged the Union Government to set up a special board to correct various “incorrect, vague and unsubstantiated” references especially related to Sikhs in history books of the country. MP and SAD general secretary Prem Singh Chandumajra said he had brought such instances in history books to the notice of Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, urging her to do the needful to remove such content from the books.
“I have also spoken in Parliament to bring it in the House record besides asking Smriti Irani to include Sikh history scholars in the Indian Council of Historical Research to work on the projects to correct the references in history books.
“A lot of blunders were committed by those who wrote history books and were more interested in glorifying invaders and foreigners, who looted the country without showing any mercy and killed thousands of people in the process,” said Chandumajra. “Instead of talking in detail about the invaders and their bravery, the Indian history books should highlight the Indian warriors, who resisted such attacks and fought against the tyranny of the Mughal and the British,” he said.
Giving an example, he said, “Mughal invader Babur should not be referred to as a ruler of India. He should be referred to as an aggressor against whom first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev raised his voice and described him as sinner and offender…
“Maharaja Ranjit Singh was a king who drove Afghans out of Punjab and stopped attacks from across the Khyber Pass. He kept the British at bay for long and did not allow their control over Punjab till he was alive. Ten years after his death in 1839, the British captured Punjab. The Indian History books should tell students about the wars fought by Ranjit Singh against Afghans and against the British after his death by his army and there should no glorification of foreign invaders who looted the country for about 1,000 years.”
Chandumajra said Irani had assured him on the floor of the House that she would study the issue and get back to him. Besides, Shaheed Bhagat Singh and his associates should be projected as great Indian heroes, he said. He said they should be never described as terrorists or killers or criminals in Indian books because what they did was for the freedom of the country.
Chandumajra also urged Irani to give top priority to the promotion of Indian languages such as Punjabi.
