Rajasthan Education Minister wants lesson on Abhinandan Varthaman in schoolbooks
Rajasthan Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra today said that he wants state government wants to include a lesson on Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in the school textbooks. He said that school students in the state should know the story of the hero pilot's bravery while pitching to include a chapter on him in the school syllabus. Here's more.
जोधपुर से पढ़े, हाल ही में पाकिस्तान की सरजमीं से अपने साहस एवम वीरता का परिचय देते हुए वापस लौटने वाले विंग कमांडर अभिनंदन के शौर्य के सम्मानस्वरूप सरकार ने अभिनंदन की शौर्य की कहानी को राजस्थान के स्कूली पाठ्यक्रम में शामिल करने का फैसला लिया है।#AbhinandanDiwas @DIPRRajasthan pic.twitter.com/MRjSLLWJxs
— Govind Singh Dotasra (@GovindDotasra) March 4, 2019
Govind Singh Dotasra took to Twitter to announce that the Rajasthan government would include a lesson on Abhinandan. "The Rajasthan government has planned to introduce the story of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in the school syllabus in a bid to honor his bravery," tweeted the Rajasthan Education Minister. He also mentioned that the IAF pilot has studied in schools in the state's Jodhpur.
Education Minister Dotasra said that his tweet on including a lesson in honor of Abhinandan's bravery reflects the sentiment of the entire country, according to Indian Express. He, however, said that he hasn't yet communicated the proposal to the government. "I expressed the nation's demand through my social post. The government and the official of the education board will take the decision," he said.
"The government should introduce Abhinandan's story in any of the classes from one to eight or nine to 12. The Rajasthan board will decide the subject and classes for the inclusion of Abhinandan's story," Dotasra was quoted as saying by Indian Express.
On 27 February, Pakistan Air Force intruded Indian airspace to target military installations a day after IAF's Balakot airstrikes. Abhinandan was part of the air force that chased Pakistani jets away. Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16 jet before his MiG-21 Bison was hit. He was captured by Pakistani army when his parachute drifted towards Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. He returned to India on 1 March.
Following the deadly Pulwama attack, Dotasra earlier said the state government is considering including lessons on the CRPF personnel martyred in the attack. According to him, the government asked a panel responsible for reviewing schoolbooks to consider recommending lessons on the martyrs in its report.
"We have recommended it to the committee set up to review books and have said that it is the government's wish that material related to the martyrs of Pulwama along with stories praising them, whether they can be included in the textbook course," said Dotasra. "The committee will take a decision on it," the Rajasthan Education Minister said.
