R. Madhavan questions NCERT syllabus, says – "I’ve studied history too…"

Mumbai: ‘Kesari 2’ actor R. Madhavan has raised questions about the history being taught to children in the NCERT curriculum. In a recent interview, R. Madhavan asked, “Who decided this syllabus?” He also questioned why there are eight chapters on the Mughals but only one chapter on the legacy of the Chola dynasty.

In the interview, R. Madhavan said, “I know that saying this might get me into trouble later, but I’ll still say it. When I studied history in school, there were eight chapters on the Mughals, two chapters on the Harappa and Mohenjo-daro civilizations, four chapters on British rule and the freedom struggle, and just one chapter on the southern kingdoms – the Cholas, Pandyas, Pallavas, and Cheras.”

Here is the full English translation of R. Madhavan’s extended statement:

R. Madhavan further said, “The British and the Mughals ruled us for around 800 years, but the legacy of the Chola empire dates back 2,400 years. The Cholas were far ahead in maritime exploration and naval power. Their trade extended as far as Rome, and through their naval fleet, they built temples as far as Angkor Wat in Cambodia. They spread Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism as far as China. Even today, many Tamil words are used in Korea, which shows that Tamil culture reached there. Yet, such a great and rich legacy has been confined to just one chapter in our textbooks.”

Wrapping up his point, he said, “Who decided this syllabus? Tamil is the oldest language in the world, yet nobody knows about it. The scientific knowledge hidden in our culture is still mocked today.”