The book titled "India's Struggle for Independence", which has been part of DU's curriculum for over two decades mentions Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Surya Sen and others as "revolutionary terrorists" in Chapter 20. It also calls the Chittagong movement a "terrorist act", while killing of British police officer John Sanders has been called an "act of terrorism".
It's Hindi version "Bharat ka swantrata sangharsh" was published by DU's Directorate of Hindi Medium Implementation in 1990.
The decision came after the freedom fighter's family had objected to the usage of word and had written a letter to HRD Minister Smriti Irani demanding appropriate changes in the book. His kin had also met DU Vice Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi regarding the issue.
Irani who had termed the text of the book to be an "academic murder of sacrifices of individuals", had directed the HRD officials to ask the university to "reconsider" it.
The university authorities maintained that they had no control over sale and distribution of the English version of the book as it was not published by DU. They also asserted that the book was a "reference book" and not a "text book".
The book's publisher Penguin had yesterday issued a statement saying it was working with the authors for a revised edition of the book.
Earlier in the day, Yadvinder Singh, the grandson of Bhagat Singh also met Irani and submitted a memorandum on the issue.
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