Kolkata, May 24 -- BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya on Sunday alleged that India's "ancient and glorious history" was disappearing from textbooks and called on students to develop self-confidence and reconnect with the country's civilisational roots while addressing a felicitation programme for meritorious students in Rajarhat-New Town.

"Our country has an ancient and glorious history. For whatever reason, that history has disappeared from textbooks today," Bhattacharya said at the programme attended by newly elected Rajarhat-New Town MLA Pijush Kanoria, former MP Locket Chatterjee, principals, teachers and guardians.

Referring to historical figures including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekananda and Rabindranath Tagore, Bhattacharya spoke on education, nationalism and cultural identity.

"You may achieve whatever goals you want in life, but have self-confidence," he said, quoting Vivekananda to say: "The old religion said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is an atheist who does not believe in himself."

Referring to the National Education Policy, Bhattacharya said students' aspirations can be confined within the "barriers of curriculum and syllabus".

"You may study Physics and History together, Mathematics alongside your mother tongue. Whoever likes whatever subject should pursue that," he said. The BJP leader said India had moved forward for centuries with its own culture, ideas and continuity and described the country as a land of pluralism that had never pursued aggression or colonial domination.

Bhattacharya also urged students to remain socially conscious and support those deprived of educational opportunities.

"You have done well in examinations. But if there is an orphan beside your house whose education has stopped after the death of a parent, standing beside that person is the foremost duty of a meritorious student," he said.

He also urged guardians not to suppress children's ambitions or interests and said students should be allowed to determine their own paths in life.

Students from several schools who performed well in board examinations were felicitated by Bhattacharya, including Bijoy Nath, a specially-abled Class XII student of Jyangra Adarsha Vidyalaya.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.