Anna now part of school syllabus

Several CBSE-recognised schools here have included a chapter on the anti-graft activist in their general knowledge textbooks for Classes 7 and 8. Some have given him the flattering epithet of ‘India’s second Gandhi’.

Anna Hazare’s campaign for a jan lokpal bill is now part of school curriculum.

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Several CBSE-recognised schools here have included a chapter on the anti-graft activist in their general knowledge textbooks for Classes 7 and 8. Some have given him the flattering epithet of ‘India’s second Gandhi’.

“Hazare is an Indian social activist recognised for his participation in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement,” says a book written by Dhiren M Joshi and brought out by a private publication. This introduction is followed by a fill-in-the-blanks exercise on Hazare’s life and his agitation.

Another chapter describes the salient features of the bill: “An institution called lokpal at the Centre and lokayuktas in states will be set up and these will be independent of the government and no minister or government official will be able to influence investigations in corruption cases.”

The CBSE said it prescribed no such book. “The CBSE and National Council for Educational Research and Training recommend books, define syllabus but can’t dictate terms to schools,” said an official.