Tamil Nadu Governor criticises state curriculum for emphasis on dravidian movement & ignoring national freedom struggle

Tamil Nadu Governor criticises state curriculum for emphasis on dravidian movement & ignoring national freedom struggle

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has criticised the state’s educational curriculum for focusing predominantly on the Dravidian movement while neglecting significant aspects of the region’s history under British rule. Speaking at the valedictory session of a two-day conference for Vice Chancellors of Tamil Nadu and private universities, held at Raj Bhavan in Udhagamandalam, Governor Ravi highlighted the omission of important historical events and social movements from the syllabus.

“The impact of the British rule on the social, economic, and political fabric of the state is totally blacked out from the curriculum. Instead, the curriculum is filled with the stories of the Dravidian movement,” stated Governor Ravi. He expressed concern that this focus overlooks other crucial movements that contributed to social and political awakening in Tamil Nadu. Notably absent from the curriculum, he pointed out, are the Ayyahvazhi movement of Ayya Vaikundar, the Sanmarga movement of Vallalar, and the Nandanar movement led by Dalit leader Swami Sathajananda.

Governor Ravi emphasised that while the Dravidian movement is an essential part of the state’s history, it should not overshadow the broader historical narrative. He argued that the exclusion of significant national freedom movements such as the Swadeshi movement and the Salt Satyagraha from the syllabus represents a major gap. “The history and political science texts for graduation and post-graduation in the state are filled with stories of the Dravidian movement,” he added.

Reflecting on Tamil Nadu’s role in the national freedom movement and the formation of the Constitution, Governor Ravi lamented the lack of representation these subjects receive in educational materials. “There is a total blackout of the national freedom movement in the syllabus. TN played a crucial role in the formation of the Constitution. But there are just a few illustrations in the syllabus. The act of erasing the sufferings of millions of Tamil people for freedom at the hands of the British is an insult to our martyrs and a denial of true history and the sacrifices of our forefathers,” he asserted.

Additionally, Governor Ravi raised concerns about the financial struggles faced by PhD scholars in state universities. He noted that many scholars either receive no fellowship or only a meagre amount of Rs. 5,000 per month, which hinders their ability to secure the more substantial UGC NET-JRF fellowship of approximately Rs. 40,000 per month. This financial disparity, coupled with a lack of proper guidance and motivation, significantly impacts their academic progress.

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Speaking at the valedictory session of a two-day conference for Vice Chancellors of Tamil Nadu and private universities held at Raj Bhavan in Udhagamandalam, Governor Ravi highlighted the transformative potential of technologies like generative AI, quantum computing, advanced robotics, ultra-nanotechnology, and synthetic biology.

“The impact of these technologies on the world and the world order is profound,” said Governor Ravi. He emphasised the need for substantial investment in youth education to harness these advancements effectively. “Investing in our youth to equip them with the skills to leverage these transformative technologies is crucial,” he added.

In addition to his focus on technology, Governor Ravi addressed the shortcomings of the current educational curriculum, which he described as a legacy of colonial rule that stifled innovation. He criticised the predominance of the Dravidian movement in the curriculum while neglecting other significant historical and social movements, such as the Ayyahvazhi movement of Ayya Vaikundar, the Sanmarga movement of Vallalar, and the Nandanar movement led by Dalit leader Swami Sathajananda.

“The history and political science texts for graduation and post-graduation in the state are filled with stories of the Dravidian movement,” Governor Ravi noted. He lamented the exclusion of Tamil Nadu’s contributions to the national freedom movement and the formation of the Constitution. “Erasing the sufferings of millions of Tamil people for freedom at the hands of the British is an insult to our martyrs and a denial of true history,” he asserted.

Governor Ravi also expressed concern about the financial struggles of PhD scholars in state universities. He pointed out that many scholars receive either no fellowship or a meagre amount of Rs 5,000 per month, limiting their ability to secure more substantial UGC NET-JRF fellowships of approximately Rs 40,000 per month. This financial disparity, coupled with a lack of proper guidance and motivation, significantly hampers their academic progress.

The conference featured presentations from prominent figures such as Prof. H.D. Charan, Chairman of the National Committee on Universal Human Values at AICTE, who discussed the integration of universal human values in education, and Dr Jayant Ravi, Secretary of the Auroville Foundation, among others. Governor Ravi distributed certificates to Vice Chancellors and participants, while students who qualified in NET and UGR-GSIR tests shared their preparation experiences.

In his earlier presidential address on Monday, Governor Ravi reflected on the historical context of India’s education system. He noted that before colonisation, India’s economy was the largest in the world, supported by an innovative and enterprising education system. However, the colonial period decimated the spirit of innovation and research. “Thiruvalluvar emphasised that knowledge should not be for the sake of knowledge, but to make learning better to address the challenges faced by humankind,” Governor Ravi remarked.

He also highlighted the progress made since independence, noting that India, despite colonial exploitation, was the sixth largest economy at independence and has now risen to the fifth largest. With continued initiatives, he expressed hope that India would soon become the third largest economy in the world.

Governor R.N. Ravi emphasised the importance of collaboration among state universities to foster research and innovation at a recent educational conclave. “When I came in 2021, universities were largely working in isolation,” Governor Ravi noted. “There was a strange lack of communication among the institutions. That is when the idea of this conclave came in. The core thrust of the conclave is research and innovation. It is also on sharing knowledge and ideas.”

UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar, in his keynote address, underscored the urgency of addressing global challenges in light of the projected population increase to 10 billion by 2050. He highlighted the escalating need for energy and the necessity of a sustainable development model. “Despite progress in fields such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information technology, there is still a pressing need for a sustainable, healthy, secure, and powerful way of life,” Kumar stated.

The conference saw participation from prominent figures including R. Kishore Kumar, Secretary to the Governor, Prof. M. Krishnan, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Tamil Nadu, Tiruvarur, and Dr. G. Aghila, Director of NIT, Trichy. The conclave focused on fostering a collaborative environment for sharing knowledge and spearheading innovative research across institutions.

Peyman Taeidi

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