Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s life, legacy to be included in Bengal school, college curricula from 2027

The West Bengal government has announced that the life, contributions and legacy of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee will be included in the curricula of state-aided schools, colleges and universities from the 2027 academic session. The decision was made in response to recommendations from a high-powered committee chaired by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, following the approaching of Mookerjee's 125th birth anniversary.

In a letter to the School and Higher Education departments, the Information and Cultural Affairs Department stated that educational institutions are required to include topics related to Mookerjee's life, contributions and legacy in their curricula at various academic levels. The department has also requested the National Library to collect and preserve material relating to Mookerjee for researchers, students and future generations.

The government is also considering approaching Parliament to procure speeches, debates, documents and other archival records of Mookerjee from parliamentary records. The Education Department is tasked with organizing academic and outreach programs for school and college students, involving teachers and academic professionals, to educate them about Mookerjee's life, contributions, ideals and legacy.

Syllabus-cum-Curriculum Committee Chairperson Prof. Debashis Chatterjee emphasized that this inclusion should be viewed in an academic context, with an understanding that education is about society and its future. He highlighted Mookerjee's significant contributions to education and his role in shaping West Bengal, including bringing Rabindranath Tagore to deliver a speech in Bengali.

The committee also recommended exploring international academic collaborations to establish chairs in Mookerjee's name at reputed institutions in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar, aiming to identify and preserve archival material relating to his life and historical associations in these countries.

However, the proposed inclusion has been met with some opposition. Ananda Handa, general secretary of the Primary Teachers Council, expressed concerns about Mookerjee's support for the British during his time. Headmistresses from different schools also highlighted the need to familiarize the younger generation with lesser-known historical figures and their contributions to West Bengal.