Congress urges Education Minister to revisit CBSE decision to hold exhibition on Partition

The Congress has urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to revisit the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to hold exhibitions on themes related to the Partition of the nation.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore said that he has written to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, requesting him to withdraw the decision taken by the CBSE to organise exhibitions on Partition themes in CBSE schools, expressing concern that such exhibitions might inadvertently sow seeds of hatred in young minds and disrupt social harmony.

In a formal letter dated August 21, Tagore, who represents Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar constituency, implored Pradhan to reconsider the board’s plan. He underscored the need to approach this sensitive historical subject with care, considering the delicate nature of the impressionable young minds.

“I express my concern towards the decision made by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding the organisation of exhibitions on the theme of ‘Partition’ in schools. I earnestly urge you to reconsider and withdraw this decision so as not to spread hatred among the minds of our younger generations and to preserve the social harmony of our society,” reads Tagore’s letter.

Tagore acknowledged the significance of remembering and learning from historical events, particularly those as significant as the partition, but he advocated for a presentation that fosters understanding, compassion and unity among the youth. He emphasised that while it is crucial to remember the bloodshed and atrocities of that era, the manner in which these events are portrayed should promote positive emotions and a sense of unity rather than negativity and division.

In his letter, Tagore stressed the critical role of the education system in shaping the minds of the next generation positively, encouraging them to embrace diversity and contribute constructively to the nation's progress.

The Congress leader noted that the board’s objective should be to inform students about history while equipping them to positively contribute to the unity, harmony and progress of the country.

Last year, the Union government had declared August 14 as the annual Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, encouraging educational institutions to commemorate the occasion. The CBSE's recent circular emphasised the sensitive nature of the subject and urged that any exhibition on the topic be approached with appropriate sobriety and solemnity.