Now Reading: West Bengal school syllabus to add Syama Prasad Mookerjee, drop Singur
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West Bengal school syllabus to add Syama Prasad Mookerjee, drop Singur
West Bengal will introduce a revised school curriculum from January 2027 that includes lessons on Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee's life and contributions in textbooks for every class, while removing chapters on the Singur land movement and the Kanyashree scheme, according to the state's Syllabus-cum-Curriculum Committee.
The committee, chaired by Professor Debashis Chatterjee, has also proposed reducing coverage of Mughal history and communism, and replacing some literary works. Rabindranath Tagore's poem 'Africa' will be replaced by 'Shivaji Utsav' in the Madhyamik syllabus. The Indian Express reports that several words will be changed, including replacing 'pani' with 'jol' for water. The New Indian Express reports the committee has submitted its recommendations to the government for approval.
Education Minister Deepak Burman said the syllabus committee is handling the matter and he will review it once the report reaches him. The revised textbooks are expected to reach schools by 2 January 2027.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both outlets report the same factual changes, but Indian Express gives more direct quotes from committee chair Chatterjee explaining each decision, such as replacing Tagore's 'Africa' with 'Shivaji Utsav' to uphold 'Viksit Bharat' values. New Indian Express frames the changes as 'modifications or corrections' rather than an overhaul and includes Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's July call for Mookerjee's legacy to be studied at all levels. Neither outlet questions the timeline or the committee's rationale. The uniform coverage suggests the government's framing is being largely reproduced, with both reports ending on the 2 January deadline for textbook delivery.
The Singur and Kanyashree chapters are being removed without any reported opposition in either article.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): indianexpress.com (neutral report), newindianexpress.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
