NEP a ‘Tool to Correct Distorted History’, Says Union Minister Suresh Gopi Amid Ongoing Policy Debate

Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi on November 29 described the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 as a “weapon” to uncover what he termed historical distortions that have shaped generations of Indian students. Addressing residents and party workers in his constituency, the actor-turned-politician said that the policy would empower students to engage with what he called “accurately recorded” history.

Gopi alleged that sections of India’s past had been selectively narrated and that several events, particularly relating to temple destruction and cultural heritage, were “misrepresented or ignored” in mainstream textbooks. Without naming specific historians or political groups, he questioned how the ideals of secularism could apply to those responsible for such historical acts, asserting that these aspects deserved revisiting and open examination.

“Shouldn’t these issues be critically analysed? Shouldn’t children learn a history that has been compiled with honesty?” he asked, while promoting the NEP and the PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme — both of which have been strongly opposed by the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala. The state government has repeatedly stated that the NEP undermines federal principles and imposes a centralised framework on education, which remains a subject under the Concurrent List.

Gopi urged people to reflect on what he described as “the hollowness and falsehoods” embedded in older historical narratives. The NEP, he said, aims not only to reform the curriculum but also to help students develop a critical understanding of India’s cultural and civilisational roots. His remarks align with the broader national debate surrounding textbook revisions introduced by the NCERT, particularly in subjects like History and Political Science.

Taking aim at the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, Gopi claimed that the current generation of Communist leaders has deviated from the ideological values upheld by their predecessors. “The leaders of the past were driven by socialist ideals. Today’s leadership survives by spreading misinformation,” he said, accusing the Left government of resisting reforms for political reasons rather than academic concerns.

The minister’s comments add to an ongoing nationwide discourse on curriculum reforms, ideological representation in textbooks, and the role of the NEP in reshaping India’s education landscape. With both the state and the Centre holding firm on their positions, the clash over NEP implementation in Kerala is likely to intensify in the coming months.