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| Narendra Modi rejects calls for his biography to appear in textbooks | Narendra Modi rejects calls for his biography to appear in textbooks |
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| Narendra Modi, the new prime minister of India, has moved swiftly to knock back a reported proposal by regional governments to include his biography in school textbooks. | Narendra Modi, the new prime minister of India, has moved swiftly to knock back a reported proposal by regional governments to include his biography in school textbooks. |
| Using Twitter, his current preferred means of public communication, the 63-year-old leader said: "Am reading in the news that some states want to include Narendra Modi's life struggles as a part of their school curriculum … I firmly believe that the life story of living individuals should not be included as a part of the school curriculum." | Using Twitter, his current preferred means of public communication, the 63-year-old leader said: "Am reading in the news that some states want to include Narendra Modi's life struggles as a part of their school curriculum … I firmly believe that the life story of living individuals should not be included as a part of the school curriculum." |
| Modi, who came from a humble background in the state of Gujarat to reach the highest executive office in a country of 1.25 billion, added that India has "a rich history of several stalwarts who made India what it is today" and that "young minds should read about these greats and emulate them". | Modi, who came from a humble background in the state of Gujarat to reach the highest executive office in a country of 1.25 billion, added that India has "a rich history of several stalwarts who made India what it is today" and that "young minds should read about these greats and emulate them". |
| The content of school textbooks is a sensitive subject in India, and highly politicised. Moves to revise curriculums or teaching supports would deepen concerns that the government of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which won a landslide victory this month, might be influenced by an ideological agenda. | The content of school textbooks is a sensitive subject in India, and highly politicised. Moves to revise curriculums or teaching supports would deepen concerns that the government of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), which won a landslide victory this month, might be influenced by an ideological agenda. |
| The last BJP government, in power from 1998–2004, prompted controversy with moves to excise what it claimed were errors made by a generation of Marxist scholars from history books used in schools. Books introduced by the BJP were later dropped by the incoming government, led by the centre-left Congress party. This new proposal, however, does not seem to have been prompted by ideology. "School textbooks already have chapters on biographies of freedom fighters and even prime ministers who have done well. So a biography of Mr Modi in text books will inspire students, as he has had a humble beginning as a tea vendor and now he has become the prime minister," Paras Jain, the school education minister of Madhya Pradesh, told local channel NDTV. | The last BJP government, in power from 1998–2004, prompted controversy with moves to excise what it claimed were errors made by a generation of Marxist scholars from history books used in schools. Books introduced by the BJP were later dropped by the incoming government, led by the centre-left Congress party. This new proposal, however, does not seem to have been prompted by ideology. "School textbooks already have chapters on biographies of freedom fighters and even prime ministers who have done well. So a biography of Mr Modi in text books will inspire students, as he has had a humble beginning as a tea vendor and now he has become the prime minister," Paras Jain, the school education minister of Madhya Pradesh, told local channel NDTV. |
| In Modi's native Gujarat state, education department officials have said they have already decided to include a chapter on Modi's life in the Social Science textbooks of its primary section from next year | In Modi's native Gujarat state, education department officials have said they have already decided to include a chapter on Modi's life in the Social Science textbooks of its primary section from next year |
| "The chapter would give an opportunity to know some of the motivating facets of the PM's life," Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, the minister of education in Gujarat, said. | "The chapter would give an opportunity to know some of the motivating facets of the PM's life," Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, the minister of education in Gujarat, said. |
| "Incidents from his life, from his childhood to present day, would be included … his struggle, bravery – as a child, he caught a crocodile – how he opted to be an ascetic in his youth, his Kailash Yatra, the years spent in the Himalayas, his years as a RSS pracharak (Hindu nationalist volunteer organiser) … how he changed all the adversities into opportunities," Chudasama told the Indian Express newspaper. | |
| Vinod Mehta, a Delhi-based commentator and political biographer, said the move was "pure sycophancy". "There is a tradition in India going back to the days of Indira and Rajeev Gandhi of extreme praise that would make others blush," Mehta said. | Vinod Mehta, a Delhi-based commentator and political biographer, said the move was "pure sycophancy". "There is a tradition in India going back to the days of Indira and Rajeev Gandhi of extreme praise that would make others blush," Mehta said. |
| Indira Gandhi took power in 1966 and dominated Indian politics until her death in 1984. Her son Rajiv was prime minister from 1984-89. | Indira Gandhi took power in 1966 and dominated Indian politics until her death in 1984. Her son Rajiv was prime minister from 1984-89. |
| In his first week in power, Modi has signalled an active style that contrasts with that of his predecessor, Manmohan Singh. Earlier this week, he was reported to have told newly appointed ministers that he wanted concrete progress in their areas of responsibility within three months, and he outlined 10 objectives, ranging from restoring "confidence in the bureaucracy" to welcoming innovative ideas. | In his first week in power, Modi has signalled an active style that contrasts with that of his predecessor, Manmohan Singh. Earlier this week, he was reported to have told newly appointed ministers that he wanted concrete progress in their areas of responsibility within three months, and he outlined 10 objectives, ranging from restoring "confidence in the bureaucracy" to welcoming innovative ideas. |
| The government has also signalled an interest in women's security, with the prime minister's office demanding a report from local authorities dealing with the gang-rape of two teenagers in a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh. | The government has also signalled an interest in women's security, with the prime minister's office demanding a report from local authorities dealing with the gang-rape of two teenagers in a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh. |
| With a huge majority that frees him from the demands of the coalition politics which has stymied efforts at serious economic reform for several years, Modi can push through controversial measures. Ministers have said they favour increasing the ceiling imposed on foreign direct investment in a variety of economic sectors in India, including retail and defence manufacturing. | With a huge majority that frees him from the demands of the coalition politics which has stymied efforts at serious economic reform for several years, Modi can push through controversial measures. Ministers have said they favour increasing the ceiling imposed on foreign direct investment in a variety of economic sectors in India, including retail and defence manufacturing. |
| Such moves might also once have been opposed by the various organisations that, along with the BJP, comprise the Sangh Parivar, a broad rightwing religious and cultural revivalist movement. Officials from the biggest and most influential organisation within the group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said it had no problems with Modi's commitment to seek greater foreign investment. The RSS has historically believed that India should be economically self-sufficient. | Such moves might also once have been opposed by the various organisations that, along with the BJP, comprise the Sangh Parivar, a broad rightwing religious and cultural revivalist movement. Officials from the biggest and most influential organisation within the group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said it had no problems with Modi's commitment to seek greater foreign investment. The RSS has historically believed that India should be economically self-sufficient. |
| The organisation also said it backed Modi's surprise invitation of Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration as prime minister. Analysts say the RSS is keen to show that it does not influence the decisions of Modi, who is a member of the organisation, or his ministers. | The organisation also said it backed Modi's surprise invitation of Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, to his inauguration as prime minister. Analysts say the RSS is keen to show that it does not influence the decisions of Modi, who is a member of the organisation, or his ministers. |
| Earlier this week, Modi paid homage at the shrine of Veer Savarkar, a controversial hero of India's independence struggle against Britain who is seen as the founder of the Hindtuva ideology of the RSS. | Earlier this week, Modi paid homage at the shrine of Veer Savarkar, a controversial hero of India's independence struggle against Britain who is seen as the founder of the Hindtuva ideology of the RSS. |