Chandigarh: A history textbook for Class 9, which is being introduced by the Haryana Board of School Education (HBSE) from the current academic session, mentions Congress’ “appeasement” policy as among one of the reasons for India’s Partition in 1947.
Referring to the events before Partition, a section of the book, which has been uploaded on the board’s website, said, “The Muslim League adopted policy to create obstacles in Congress’ path. On the other hand, Congress wanted the support of the Muslim League against the British government.”
“The Lucknow Pact of 1916, Khilafat Movement of 1919 and the Gandhi-Jinnah talks were examples of Congress’ ‘tushtikaran’ (appeasement). It encouraged communalism. The result of repeated requests to Mohd Ali Jinnah led to giving him undue importance and he always started opposing the Congress. The situation of the country started getting bad. Communal riots were erupting, behind which there was Muslim League’s hand,” it said.
Congress then realised that to maintain peace and order, it is necessary to accept country’s partition, said the chapter in the book uploaded in Hindi.
It also said among other prominent reason behind the country’s Partition was the Congress leadership’s weariness and greed for power.
“The Congress leadership’s weariness….they were not ready for more struggle. Some Congress leaders wanted to immediately experience the taste of power after getting independence,” it said.
A section in the book also poses that if Partition was necessary to ensure peace between the two countries, then why peace has not been established even till today.
HBSE chairperson Prof Jagbir Singh said the book tells the events in history as they unfolded. The book has been vetted by noted historians, he said.
Singh said the book will be taught from the current academic session.
Commenting on the section mentioning Congress’ “appeasement”, Haryana Congress leader and former state education minister Geeta Bhukkal said everyone is aware about the role of the party in the country’s freedom struggle.
“Facts should be told as they are. But if these are twisted, children will not get to know the reality,” she said.
This article first appeared on siasat.com
