Following controversy over a book, part of Delhi University’s history curriculum, which refers to Bhagat Singh as a “revolutionary terrorist,” the university on Friday decided to stop the sale and distribution of its Hindi translation.
The book titled India’s Struggle for Independence, which has been part of DU’s curriculum for over two decades mentions Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Surya Sen and others as “revolutionary terrorists” in Chapter 20.
It also calls the Chittagong movement a “terrorist act,” while killing of British police officer John Sanders has been called an “act of terrorism”.
The decision came after the freedom fighter’s family had objected to the usage of word and had written a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani demanding appropriate changes in the book. His kin had also met DU Vice Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi regarding the issue.
Irani who had termed the text of the book to be an “academic murder of sacrifices of individuals,” had directed the HRD officials to ask the university to “reconsider” it.
The book’s publisher Penguin had on Thursday issued a statement saying it was working with the authors for a revised edition of the book.
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