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Don't include my life in school text books, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Written By Ruchi Kumar | Updated: May 30, 2014, 09:08 AM IST

Newly anointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who won the recent Lok Sabha elections with a historic landslide victory, tweeted early on Friday morning that he did not wish his life to be included as part of school curriculum.

Modi's reaction comes after a series of reports that have suggested that state governments are considering incorporating his life story as part of educational curriculum.

With much humility, Modi disapproved of the practice, saying that the "life story of living individuals should not be included as part of the school curriculum". 

He further added that children should rather be reading about India's several other stalwarts.

Anandiben Patel's government in Gujarat wanted to include his life story in school syllabus. 

Gujarat government had yesterday said it has decided to include all important chapters of Modi's life into the syllabus of primary schools. "The chapters may include events starting from his birth, his humble family background, school days, how he faced struggle at different stages of his life and what are the circumstances behind his decision to become a monk," Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama had said yesterday.

Chudasma said selected important and inspiring events which took place until Modi became prime minister would in included and a process has been initiated to form a committee to prepare the final list of events to be included. "These events will be included in the syllabus of primary schools, such as fifth, sixth and seventh standard. Since this initiative is at a primary stage, the new syllabus will come into effect only in 2015-16," the minister had said.

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Much earlier, Rajasthan Education Minister Kali Charan Saraf had earlier said that he would consider incorporating Narendra Modi's biography in school text books, if the latter became the prime minister after the Lok Sabha polls.  Similarly and the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh, too, had said that lessons on the life of Modi may be included in the school curriculum to "inspire" students. "We have received suggestions from various quarters that a life-sketch of Modiji be taught in the schools, to inspire students from early age," School Education Minister Paras Jain had said,

Saraf had stated that inspirational events from Modi's life would be incorporated in text books after the BJP formed the government at the Centre. "Modi is an inspirational personality and young students should learn about his life. We plan to incorporate some inspirational events from Modi's biography in school books when he becomes the next Prime Minister," Saraf said.

(With agency inputs)