Manzoor Ahmed Naik
Education is the most powerful instrument for shaping the moral, intellectual, and national consciousness of future generations. A nation may recover from economic setbacks and political turbulence, but the deliberate distortion of young minds through compromised educational material inflicts damage that can take decades to repair. The recent controversy surrounding the book Personalities and Legends of J&K must, therefore, be viewed not as an ordinary administrative lapse but as a matter of profound national importance.
Reports indicate that the book allegedly portrays certain separatist figures and militant-linked personalities in a favourable light and reportedly uses terminology such as “Indian Occupied Kashmir” and “Indian Held Kashmir.” If these reports are accurate, the matter goes far beyond poor editorial judgment. Such expressions directly contradict India’s constitutional and sovereign position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of the Union of India. The use of such terminology in educational material intended for school libraries is deeply disturbing and raises serious questions regarding the scrutiny, approval and procurement processes.
Jammu and Kashmir has paid an extraordinarily heavy price because of terrorism and separatism. For more than three decades, the region witnessed violence that claimed the lives of innocent civilians, security personnel, public representatives, and patriotic citizens. Thousands of families were shattered, educational institutions suffered, economic progress was disrupted, and generations of young people were deprived of opportunities. The scars of this painful history remain fresh in the collective memory of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Against this backdrop, any educational material that appears to romanticize, sanitize or unduly glorify controversial separatist or militant-linked figures is deeply insensitive to the suffering endured by countless victims of violence. Educational institutions cannot become arenas where narratives that challenge constitutional values are presented without critical context. The purpose of education is to cultivate informed, responsible and constitutionally aware citizens, not to create confusion about issues that have cost the nation so dearly.
The controversy becomes even more alarming because the books reportedly found their way into government school libraries through official channels. This naturally raises several troubling questions. Who recommended these books? Which committee vetted the contents? What standards were applied in evaluating their suitability for children? Was there negligence, incompetence, or a complete collapse of institutional safeguards? Were proper procedures followed at every stage of approval and distribution?
The answers to these questions are not merely administrative necessities; they are essential for maintaining public confidence in our educational institutions. Parents have every right to expect that books placed in government school libraries will uphold constitutional values, promote critical thinking, and encourage national integration. They should never have to worry that educational resources may inadvertently propagate narratives that are divisive, historically distorted or inconsistent with the constitutional position of the country.
The decision of the administration to withdraw the books from circulation and initiate disciplinary proceedings is an important first step. However, suspensions and routine departmental inquiries alone will not suffice. Accountability must be comprehensive, transparent and time-bound. Every individual involved in the recommendation, evaluation, approval, procurement and distribution of these books must be identified and their role carefully examined. If any person is found to have knowingly facilitated the circulation of material that is contrary to established constitutional principles or grossly unsuitable for educational purposes, appropriate disciplinary and legal action should follow in accordance with the law.
This episode also exposes a larger challenge confronting educational systems in contemporary societies. Curriculum and library resources are not neutral instruments; they shape the worldview of young minds. Consequently, educational content must be subjected to rigorous academic scrutiny and institutional oversight. There is an urgent need for a robust, transparent and multi-layered vetting mechanism involving historians, educationists, subject experts and constitutional scholars to ensure that materials introduced into schools are academically sound, historically balanced and aligned with constitutional values.
At a time when Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing encouraging progress in terms of peace, democratic participation, development and integration, the focus of education must be on inspiring young people through stories of constitutionalism, scientific achievement, social reform, entrepreneurship, national service and sacrifice. Students deserve books that encourage them to become informed citizens, responsible leaders and contributors to nation-building.
The controversy surrounding Personalities and Legends of J&K should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers, educational authorities and society at large. The integrity of education cannot be compromised. The minds of our children are too precious to become casualties of institutional negligence, inadequate scrutiny or ideologically coloured narratives.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir must ensure that the ongoing inquiry is thorough, impartial and expeditious. Those responsible for any lapses should be held accountable in accordance with the law, and systemic reforms should be introduced so that similar controversies never recur. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, and indeed the nation as a whole, deserve an educational system that strengthens constitutional values, promotes national integration and equips future generations with truth, wisdom and a deep sense of responsibility toward the country.
The lessons taught to children today shape the destiny of the nation tomorrow. On matters concerning education and national consciousness, there can be no room for complacency. The defence of constitutional values and the integrity of our educational institutions is not merely an administrative duty—it is a national obligation.
(The Writer is a Senior BJP leader and State General Secretary ST Morcha J&K UT)
