Education News Today : This comes amid an ongoing debate over changes in the National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT ) textbooks, in which the opposition is accusing the BJP-led NDA government of tampering with historical facts. BJP leader and founder of think tank 'India Foundation' Shaurya Doval says that any attempt to change textbooks to mention portions that instill a sense of pride about the country's history or geography should not be seen as "saffronisation".

However, he stressed that the changes should be based on facts.

Interacting with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters here, Doval said there was no doubt that whatever was in the existing textbooks was not based on hearsay and should be well-researched. If later some facts emerge and it is thought that they should be taught to students, it should not be seen as "saffronisation", he said.

Where did the talk of saffronisation come from?

The BJP leader said, "For example, the Mughal Empire ended around 1700 and the British came in 1857, then in the intervening time someone must have ruled us, but we have been hearing that we were slaves for more than 1,000 years, first to the Mughals and then to the British. India may have been reborn again in the last 100 years, but as soon as this idea comes up, critics say saffronisation is being done."

Banker-turned-politician Doval said one of the functions of the colonial education system was to create people who do not believe in self-respect.

Changes in books should be based on facts

He said, "I am not saying that the changes should not be fact-based, but if there is any part of the country's history or geography that makes us proud, then why should it not be highlighted? I don't think this is saffronisation."

Doval's remarks came amid the ongoing debate on changes in National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT ) textbooks, in which the opposition is accusing the BJP-led NDA government of tampering with historical facts.