Pulwama attack: Class VI-XII textbooks to have martyrs’ life sketches

JAIPUR: Moved by the terrorist attack in Pulwama, education minister Govind Singh Dotasara on Sunday directed the textbook revision committee to include a series of stories on the martyrs in the school curriculum. The committee has been asked to identify the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in Kargil, Uri and Pulwama. The stories will be included in the curriculum of class VI to XII.
“It is important that the supreme sacrifice made by our soldiers safeguarding our motherland be told to our students. It will instil a sense of nationalism and also inspire them to do righteous things in life,” said Dotasara. The textbook revision committee will examine the lives of soldiers who had attained martyrdom in major combat operations and will include their life-sketches in the textbooks.

The series of stories are likely to be included in the textbooks from the 2020-21 academic session. The revised textbook committee was formed last week to revamp the curriculum by making additions and omissions of chapters and lessons. The last revision was made in 2016 by the BJP government.

The minister has also announced to name government schools after the five martyrs from the state. The department has asked the officials to identify schools either in the soldiers’ village/town/city for naming them after them. Preference will be given to the schools where these soldiers studied. “These schools will be upgraded. The inaugural of these schools will be done by the martyrs’ immediate family members and special ceremony will be held on their death anniversaries, so that students know the sacrifice made by them,” said Dotasara.