An error in a draft of a teacher text prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to teach students the new textbooks has kicked up a political row.
The teachers’ handbook for Environmental Science for Class IV students mentioned that freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose fled to Germany fearing the British. After the error kicked up a storm, the SCERT corrected it. It was also decided to seek an explanation from those responsible for the mistake.
The error was noticed in a note pertaining to Subhas Chandra Bose in the teacher text. It said that “Bose who was Congress president resigned from the position and formed the new party Forward Bloc. Fearing the British administration, he fled to Germany and later formed the Indian National Army and fought against the British.”
A row broke out over the interpretation that Bose left the country fearing the British. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad came to the fore flaying the error. Those who had criticised Bose by calling him names and drawing his cartoons were again trying to defame him by distorting history, the organisation alleged.
Teachers and their organisations too had pointed out the error, prompting the SCERT to correct it in the handbook.
Published – August 16, 2025 11:38 pm IST
