'Drop colonial title Lord from textbooks, govt records': BJP MP in RS
New Delhi, Dec 5
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, BJP MP from Odisha, Sujeet Kumar, called for an urgent review of school textbooks, government documents, and official websites that continue to refer to British Governors-General and Viceroys with the colonial honorific 'Lord'.
Kumar said he had conducted a random check of NCERT history textbooks for Classes 8 and 12, as well as websites of ministries such as the Ministry of Culture, Press Information Bureau, and Archaeological Survey of India, and found “dozens of references†to figures like Lord Curzon, Lord Mountbatten, and Lord Dalhousie.
He noted that even Raj Bhavan, Bihar’s official portal, had used the term “Lord†to describe colonial administrators.
“It is unfortunate that even after 78 years of Independence, we continue to place these colonial rulers on a pedestal by calling them ‘Lord’, despite their horrendous and barbaric crimes against our people,†Kumar said.
He argued that such usage perpetuates a colonial mindset, undermines social equality, and goes against the spirit of the Constitution.
Drawing parallels with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s renaming of Rajpath to Kartavya Path, Kumar said the move was not merely symbolic but reflected a shift from colonial attitudes to civic responsibility and national pride.
He recalled the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address from the Red Fort, where PM Modi urged citizens to liberate themselves from the “slavery mindset†as part of the vision for Amrit Kaal.
“Why should we continue to glorify titles given by the British to themselves for their imperialistic designs? Our freedom fighters are not referred to with such reverence. A vibrant democracy like ours must shed these remnants of slavery,†Kumar asserted.
His intervention adds to the growing calls for decolonising India’s education system and official discourse, aligning with the government’s broader push to eliminate colonial symbols and promote indigenous narratives.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree with the sentiment, but is this the most urgent issue? We have real problems in education - teacher shortages, poor infrastructure. While decolonising is good, let's not get lost in symbolism over substance.
As a history teacher, I see his point. Calling them 'Lord' subtly implies reverence. We should teach their actions - the Partition, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre - without giving them honorary titles. It's about accurate historical perspective.
Interesting debate. From an outside perspective, it seems like a positive step for national identity. Many countries revisit historical narratives. The parallel to Kartavya Path is apt - it's about mindset.
Absolutely correct! We removed statues, changed road names, now this is the next logical step. Our children should read about Curzon, Mountbatten etc., but as historical figures, not as 'Lords'. Jai Hind!
The part about the Constitution and social equality is key. We are a republic. No one is born a 'Lord'. Let's focus on the titles of our real heroes - Netaji, Sardar Patel, Dr. Ambedkar - not colonial rulers.
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