Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding A Cartoon Showing Disregard To Dr. B.R. Ambedkar And Pandit Jawahar Lal ... on 11 May, 2012
> Title: Regarding a cartoon showing disregard to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in school text book published by NCERT.
SHRI THOL THIRUMAAVALAVAN: Madam, Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as we know very well, is the Architect of our Constitution. He worked hard for more than three years to prepare this Constitution. He is the only person who made this Constitution, without any support of the Drafting Committee. In the syllabus of 11th CBSE book, page 18, Chapter I – the Indian Constitution at work – a cartoon by the cartoonist, Shankar, was insulting. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru whipping Dr. Ambedkar to expedite the constitutional work. It is really a great insult to both the leaders – not only for Dr. Ambedkar, but it is also a great insult to Panditji. He admired our Dr. B.R. Ambedkar when he presented the Constitution in 1950. Dr. Ambedkar worked very hard for preparing this Constitution. It is a very great insult to the nation, insult to Parliament, and insult to both the leaders, while we are going to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Parliament. So, please withdraw the book and take necessary action against the publishers. … (Interruptions) The HRD Minister should take this responsibility and punishment must be given. The Minister should come here. … (Interruptions) The hon. Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal should resign. … (Interruptions) He is a responsible person. He must apologise. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER:
Shri S.S. Ramasubbu is allowed to associate with the issue raised by Shri Thol Thirumaavalavan.
… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Please take your seats. Hon. Minister is speaking.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE: Madam, I entirely agree with the sentiments expressed by all sections of the House. It is not confined to one section. I don’t know who has brought out this cartoon and with this impression; it is totally wrong. Dr. Ambedkar is considered as the Ved Vyas of Indian Constitution and without his tireless efforts, the biggest Magna Carta of socio-economic transformation, as it was described by Sir Anthony Eden, would not have seen the light of the day. So far as the Indian Constitution is concerned, it would not have been possible without him to bring it within three years. India produced the lengthiest Constitution within the shortest possible time because from November 1946 to November 1949, within these three years, the Constituent Assembly worked as Constituent Assembly and as Central Assembly. As Constituent Assembly, they sat in the Central Hall; as Central Assembly they sat here. They discharged yeoman’s service to provide an excellent Constitution. The details, of course, will be provided by the HRD Ministry, and I would request the HRD Minister to come. But I express that we are just going to pay tribute to these great sons of India just after two days. On 13th May, 2012, we have decided. I have no doubt, speaker after speaker, whoever will speak from this side or that side, will not speak without reference to Dr. Ambedkar and his contribution to Indian Constitution, which has kept our democracy, our largest functional democracy functioning. And without Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution, it would have never been possible. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: Let us continue with Question Hour now. Shri Gurudas Dasgupta.
… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : अब क्वैश्चन ऑवर चलाने दीजिए।
…( व्यवधान)
MADAM SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned to meet again at 1200 noon.
11.21 hrs The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Twelve of the Clock.
Re: Cartoon showing disregard to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in school text book published by NCERT.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Shri Kapil Sibal.
… (Interruptions)
THE MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI KAPIL SIBAL): Sir, I want to make a statement. … (Interruptions) I want to respond. … (Interruptions)
14.01 hrs. At this stage, Dr. Baliram, Shri Ashok Argal, Shri Thol Thirumaavalan, Shri P. Lingam and some other hon’ble Members came and stood on the floor near the Table.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record except the hon. Minister’s statement.
(Interruptions)* SHRI KAPIL SIBAL: Mr. Chairman, Sir, through you, I want to inform the distinguished Members of this House that as far back as the 26th of April, we wrote to the Director, National Council of Educational Research and Training in respect the controversy over the cartoons in the NCERT Textbooks of Political Science (Class XI). I quote the letter:
“I am directed to refer to your communication No. F.PS (D)/6-32/2012-13 dated 4th of April, 2012 on the above mentioned subject and to say that the matter has been examined in this Ministry and it has been considered advisable to withdraw the cartoon from the NCERT Textbooks of Political Science, Indian Constitution at Work (Class XI). Action taken in the matter may please be intimated to this Ministry at the earliest.” Now, Sir, I have been further informed that the distribution of both these textbooks has been stopped. … (Interruptions) We have directed the NCERT to stop the distribution of these textbooks. … (Interruptions) We have set up a Committee to review not just the cartoons but the content of these textbooks as well. … (Interruptions) I am sure that the distinguished Members of this House understand that there is nothing more that we can do in this context. And for the next year we will remove all these cartoons. But even this year, till we review the situation, the present textbooks will not be distributed. … (Interruptions)
12.00 hrs The Lok Sabha re-assembled at Twelve of the Clock.
(Shri Francisco Cosme Sardinha in the Chair) श्री दारा सिंह चौहान (घोसी): सभापति जी, यह बहुत ही सेंसटिव और महत्वपूर्ण मुद्दा है। आप पहले मंत्री जी को बुलाइए।...( व्यवधान) पहले मंत्री जी को बुलाइए। ...( व्यवधान)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing else will go on record.
(Interruptions)*