Textbook goof-up sparks outrage in Hampi, activists to write to Odisha govt

Vijayanagara (Hosapete): Hampi heritage activists are planning to write to the Odisha govt after it reportedly published a photograph of Hampi’s iconic Stone Chariot in school textbooks, wrongly identifying it as the Konark Sun Temple.

Condemning the error, the group said such mistakes mislead students and distort the history of nationally important monuments. They will urge the Odisha govt to rectify the error immediately, issue an apology, and ensure such lapses are not repeated. The group will also appeal to the Karnataka govt to officially take up the matter with Odisha and seek corrections in the textbooks.Vishwanath Malagi, president, Vijayanagara Smaraka Samskriti Samrakshana Vedike, told TOI that he will submit a memorandum to the chief secretary of Odisha through the Deputy Commissioner of Vijayanagara district.

“Be it Hampi or Konark, both have equal historical significance, and there must be no errors in school textbooks. Children tend to retain what they learn in school. The Odisha govt should withdraw such textbooks in the interest of its next generation,” he said.Eranna K Pujar, a guide, termed it a “wrong move” by the Odisha govt. “We will join in writing a letter. We would feel proud if any state taught its students about Hampi.

However, we cannot accept incorrect information with the wrong picture,” he said.Requesting anonymity, a professor from Kannada University, Hampi, said the confusion may have arisen due to similarities in wheel motifs. “Hampi’s wheels are part of a stone chariot pulled by elephants, while Konark’s are linked to the Sun Temple and are drawn by horses. However, such confusion is unacceptable in the interest of heritage,” he opined.The Odisha govt has reportedly formed a three-member committee to examine 1,600 errors in revised textbooks prepared under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for classes 1 to 8. The Hampi Stone Chariot photograph appears in a Class 8 English textbook. Odisha’s State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has instructed teachers to correct the error during lessons this academic year. SCERT has said the mistakes will be rectified in future editions.

The govt has printed about 2.8 crore textbooks, of which 95% have already been distributed. Teachers’ associations have demanded that a corrigendum booklet be issued to all students.Quote hanger: I was appointed Vijayanagara district minister only a few hours ago. We will seek details from the DC and take up the issue with the Odisha govt— K H Muniyappa, food and civil supplies minister