Study Book Lists PM as Freedom Fighter Erroneously

A recent report highlighted public backlash after a coaching institute’s study book erroneously listed Prime Minister Narendra Modi among prominent freedom fighters, despite his birth in 1950.

The institute has mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the list of freedom fighters, among other personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhash Chandra Bose, Rabindranath Tagore and Mangal Pandey.

Fact-checks revealed the study material was not an official government textbook (like NCERT or CBSE). It was a private preparation guide linked to a competitive exam tutor from the prominent ed-tech coaching platform Careerwill, which is headquartered in New Delhi.

But how did Prime Minister Modi become a Freedom Fighter after 1947? India became independent in 1947. Modi was born on September 17, 1950, which is three years after India received independence from British rule.

In 2014, the BJP leader became the first prime minister to be born after independence. The book also mentions some of Modi’s quotes like “Mai bhi chowkidaar”, “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan”, Jai Vigyaan, Jai Anusadhan”. A video of the claim allegedly linked to a competetive exam guide, has gone viral on social media, with many users saying that such textbooks brainwashed children.

One user said that such incidents are not funny, but extremely concerning, even linking it to North Korea. “Imagine the level of brainwashing being attempted in this country that a man born in 1950 (03 years after India’s independence) is being showed into textbooks as a Freedom Fighter along with actual freedom fighters. This isn’t funny and is extremely alarming, one step towards becoming North Korea,” the user said on X.

Another user called it “history pe jumla”, adding that this is like an autobiography with a government stamp. Another user said compared the propaganda books published by Hitler and said RSS learnt the same. Others expressed concerns over the state of the education system in India, while some saw it as humour.

Modi did make history in 2014, when he became the first Indian prime minister born after independence. But apparently, in this particular textbook, history has decided to begin a little earlier. Whether the reference is an error, careless wording or deliberate revisionism is unclear. But it may have sowed the seeds for a new optional subject: creative chronology.

Content contributed by deccan herald staff member, reported from New Delhi, India, sourced by deccanherald.com