Venkaiah Naidu seeks inclusion of 'Emergency' chapter in schools
June 26, 2017 10:37
Terming 'Emergency' as the "darkest chapter" in India's democratic history, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu stressed the need for dedicating a chapter on it in the school curriculum.
"The Emergency, a historical scar in the minds of one generation, is treated as a curiosity today. It is hardly remembered by younger generations and a few of them can recite the trauma and torture stories of that era. Though four decades have passed, Emergency should not be forgotten and forgiven," said the Union information and broadcasting minister.
"I feel there should be a chapter on Emergency in our school curriculum to make the younger generation know about the murder of democracy and how it was restored. This is quite essential I feel," he said, adding the Indian Council of Historical Research should bring a volume on the same and it should be made part of the curriculum.
He said the younger generation must know what was Emergency, why it was imposed, its effect and how it was lifted.
He also said during Emergency, the role of media was less than inspiring.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi too remembered the Emergency in his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday, saying 'such a black night' cannot be forgotten, and underlined the need for eternal vigilance to preserve democracy.
He recalled that democracy-lovers had fought a big battle against the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and said the pro-democracy 'heritage' needs to be strengthened.
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