On Thursday, the CSBE released the updated curriculum for the 2022-2023 academic year, which contained several unusual deductions. Most notably, two verses from Faiz Ahmed Faiz, which had been a part of the section on “Religion, Communalism and Politics — Communalism, Secular State” in a 10th grade textbook called ‘Democratic Politics II’, have been removed from the curriculum, according to a report by The Express Tribune.
The verses in question are English translations of two of his poems. “We remain strangers even after so many meetings, blood stains remain even after so many rains” is one verse, which was written after a trip Faiz made to Bangladesh in 1974. The other verse is “Not enough to shed tears, to suffer anguish, not enough to nurse love in secret… Today, walk in the public square fettered in chains.” Which was written when Faiz was being taken from a jail to a dentist’s office, in chains.
Other changes to the syllabus include the removal of a chapter on Mughal Courts, a chapter on the rise of Islamic empires, one on the Cold War, and chapters on ‘democracy and diversity’, among others.
India Drops 'Democracy And Diversity', Mughal Courts, Cold War, Food security, Poems By Faiz From CBSE Syllabus. pic.twitter.com/DQ5WcU8sh5
— Suchitra Vijayan (@suchitrav) April 23, 2022
Some Indians on Twitter are expressing alarm and concern over this move, by questioning the benefits gained from removing chapters on historical moments and chapters on diversity.
When you drop a chapter on ‘Democracy and Diversity’ from the school syllabus, will we produce a gen next that neither believes in democracy or diversity? https://t.co/C9Hy1bqH3Q
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) April 23, 2022
1981 : AtalBihariVajpayee warmly greets Faiz whose poetry he greatly admired. No one was seen as “Anti – National” for admiring a voice from across the border.
2022 : Faiz poems struck off CBSE syllabus.
That’s how vicious BJP can be. #FaizAhmedFaiz pic.twitter.com/KJSSRGb3ze
— Pragnya Gupta (@GuptaPragnya) April 25, 2022
Condemn the decision of CBSE for acting as RSS agent in Education.If students are denied true history then they will grow with Sanghi’s mindset,we will fight for restoration of chapters which are deleted. Without NAM , food security,Cold War , Industial1/2 https://t.co/KetY589EuY
— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳✋மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) April 24, 2022
Others still rejoiced over the exclusion of these chapters, which were deemed ‘unnecessary and irrelevant’ by them.
CBSE removes chapters on Mughals, cold war, Urdu poem verses of Faiz from the syllabus 2022-23.
NEW INDIA 🇮🇳🇮🇳🔥🔥
— Ankur🇮🇳™ (@unapologeticAnk) April 23, 2022
📍Welcomed change in CBSE👇 syllabus 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/XZ5gbPbLB0
— 🇮🇳 𝕽𝖊𝖓𝖚𝖐𝖆 (@PremSmk) April 23, 2022
#CBSE drops chapters on Islamic empires, coldwar, verses of Faiz also excluded from syllabus;
No more glorification of Cruel Invaders. This is New India 🇮🇳🔥 pic.twitter.com/cUB2Mx9hUW— Ayush (@ayyush_verma) April 23, 2022
