Removal of Paika Rebellion from NCERT Books Sparks Outrage

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has expressed deep concern and strong objection over the removal of the Paika Rebellion content from NCERT textbooks. He criticized the decision, stating that excluding this significant historical event erases a vital chapter of Odisha’s valiant legacy.

Patnaik emphasized that the Paika Rebellion—or Paika Vidroha—holds immense importance in the state’s history and symbolizes the courage and resistance of the people of Odisha against British colonial rule. He condemned the exclusion of such a pivotal episode, calling it inappropriate and unjustified.

Highlighting the cultural and historical value of the rebellion, he asserted that such omissions undermine the contributions of regional heroes and movements in India’s freedom struggle. In response to the move, Naveen Patnaik has written a formal letter to the Union Education Minister, urging reconsideration and reinstatement of the topic in the curriculum.

The issue has sparked wider debate, with many in Odisha and beyond questioning the rationale behind dropping such crucial regional histories from national educational content.