CBSE textbook row on Nadars: Centre to look into issue

As political parties in Tamil Nadu strongly protested the "wrong" depiction of Nadar community in a CBSE textbook, the Centre today assured it would look into the issue and do the needful.

The assurance was given by HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju to his party colleague and Shipping Minister G K Vasan when the latter met him to discuss the issue.

Raju said he was holding discussions with officials to find out the reality and would "definitely try to do the needful on this important issue", Vasan told PTI.

He said the "wrong" information given in the CBSE textbook "wounded" the sentiments of the Nadar community and the particular portion should be removed at the earliest.

Joining other political leaders in the state, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday demanded removal of "objectionable" references in the CBSE textbook about Nadar community.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, she said the "incorrect" details in the textbook of class IX were "very misleading and may leave a wrong impression in the minds of the students" about the community.

"The social and economical development achieved by the Nadars over the years is commendable. Their success in the fields of education and business can be attributed to their hard work and determination," she said urging the prime minister to direct officials to remove "objectionable" references.

Noting that great leaders, including Kamaraj, belonged to this community and their contribution to society was immeasurable, Jayalalithaa said various associations belonging to the community made representations to her condemning such "objectionable" references about their community.

She said that contrary to the information given in the text, the Nadars were the original inhabitants of the Kanyakumari district and this was corroborated by the Tholkappiam and Silappathikaram literatures.

"The Nadars are said to be descendants of those who ruled the Cheran, Cholan and Pandyan Kingdoms... the Nadar community is not a lower caste as mentioned in the CBSE book. Rather, they have been rulers of South India at one point of time", the chief minister said.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Chief M Karunanidhi had on Thursday wrote to the prime minister on the issue. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Vaiko and Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S Ramadoss have also objected to the references.