This time, Karnataka is in the news for education. And, it has led to a state-wide flutter. The controversy was triggered with the printing of new school textbooks that incorporated sweeping changes proposed by a committee helmed by contentious writer Rohith Chakrathirtha. In 2021, the former mathematics professor was appointed chairperson of Karnataka’s textbook review committee, and has been accused by critics of “saffronising” school textbooks.

The changes, as reported by the Bengaluru-based digital news platform The News Minute, included the removal of writings by 27 Dalit writers, and lessons on women social reformers (Savitribai Phule, Tarabai Shinde, and Pandit Ramabai among others),  Mahatma Gandhi, Dr BR Ambedkar, and Jawaharlal Nehru. Some of the newer additions include teachings and speeches by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and KB Hedgewar, both RSS ideologues.