West Bengal to Include Syama Prasad Mookerjee's Contributions in School Curriculum
The West Bengal government has decided to include the contributions of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, in the state's school and university curriculum starting from the next academic year. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, following the first meeting of a special committee constituted to plan programmes for the 125th birth anniversary of Mookerjee.
“The Education Department will include a dedicated section on Syama Prasad Mookerjee in the curriculum from the next academic session. His contributions will be taught at school and university levels,” Mr. Adhikari said. He also announced that a statue of Mookerjee would be installed at Eco Park in Kolkata and a library would be built at his ancestral home in Jeerat, Hooghly district.
Syama Prasad Mookerjee, born in 1901, was a prominent political leader and a key figure in the movement to keep West Bengal as part of India. He was a minister in India's first Union cabinet under Jawaharlal Nehru, serving as Minister for Industry and Supply. He resigned in 1950 in protest against the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, which he believed did not adequately protect minority rights in Pakistan. In 1951, he founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He later became a vocal advocate for the full integration of Jammu and Kashmir into India and was arrested in 1953 while entering Kashmir without a permit; he died in detention shortly after.
The decision to introduce Mookerjee in the curriculum was taken at the committee's first meeting. The committee, formed by the state government, is tasked with planning and implementing anniversary events. Mr. Adhikari said the initiative represents the government's commitment to honour leaders who contributed to national integration. He added that the Education Department has been directed to prepare the syllabus in consultation with historians and academics.
The move is part of a broader effort by the BJP-led government in West Bengal to highlight Mookerjee's legacy. In July last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended Mookerjee's birth anniversary celebrations in Kolkata. More recently, a street in Rampurhat in Birbhum district, previously named after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, was renamed in honour of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. This move has drawn mixed reactions, with some welcoming the tribute and others questioning the replacement of Netaji's name.
Education experts have noted that the inclusion of Mookerjee in school textbooks could significantly influence the historical narrative taught in Bengal. However, they caution that the content must be accurate and balanced. The Education Department has not yet released specifics of the curriculum. Officials said the changes will take effect from the next academic session and will apply to both schools and universities.
Mookerjee's ancestral home in Jeerat is currently in a neglected condition. The proposed library is expected to house documents and rare materials related to his life. Local administration has been asked to expedite the planning and allocate funds. The statue at Eco Park is likely to be unveiled during the 125th birth anniversary year.
Political reactions to the announcement have been mixed. Ruling party members praised the decision, saying it gives due recognition to a seminal figure in Bengal's history. Opposition leaders, however, argued that curriculum changes should not be made unilaterally and that a wider consultative process should be followed. They also expressed concern that such moves could polarise the educational environment.
The committee is expected to hold its next meeting after the festive season. Meanwhile, the government is likely to finalise the syllabus in the coming months, with a focus on Mookerjee's role in the anti-partition movement and his vision for a united India.
