Prayagraj, 13 April: After including chapters on the Pulwama attack and the 2019 surgical strike in the syllabus of all state universities last year, the government is planning to include chapters highlighting the bravery of Indian soldiers in various battles, including the most recent Indo-China conflict in Galwan valley.
Beginning with the Mahabharat period, the teachings will cover all historical battles. To implement the revisions, a think group comprising academics, military science specialists, and political figures is debating the “need to revisit history and military science” as taught at both central and state institutions.
According to an academic acquainted with the proceedings, the syllabus is being altered so that the conflicts in which Indian soldiers vanquished the enemy may be highlighted.
He stated that students of defence studies will be made aware of wars in which Indian soldiers’ gallantry and tactics made all the difference. Prof Prashant Agarwal, head of the department of defence and strategic studies at Allahabad University, who was a member of the committee that recommended changing the syllabus in state universities last year, stated: “Although the Indo-China war ended in a ceasefire ? that too because the Chinese would not have been able to continue the war once winter sets in ? but the general perception is that India lost the war even though there have been many instances where India has won.”
“With comparatively inferior weaponry, a handful of Indian soldiers inflicted massive damage on the Chinese side. There is a need to glorify Indian forces and show the world the true picture of our soldiers’ valour by ‘revisiting’ several wars and battles fought during the Mughal, British, and post-Independence eras. How can pupils understand the gallantry of the Indian Army if they only view conflicts and the army’s power through the eyes of foreign writers? There aren’t many books by Indian authors,” he says.
According to reports, the committee members have had many rounds of talks on the subject.
According to sources, the new syllabus and literature will include information on all major conflicts from an Indian viewpoint.
The pupils will learn about the events that led to India releasing almost 93,000 Pakistani soldiers during the 1971 war, as well as why the winning side (India) handed up its own land.
“Our students are familiar with all of the Panipat battles, but what about the battle of Assaye in 1803? Shouldn’t pupils be educated about how bravely Maratha troops battled the British? What about Rani Laxmibai’s war with the British in 1857? Why should it be just a passing remark that does not reveal the true glory of the fierce Rani?” he wondered. Agarwal went on to say that necessary improvements will be made to educate kids about the glories of Indian martial arts.
