Maharashtra spends Rs 4 crore to stack Deendayal Upadhyay's books in 12,000 libraries

The state plans to publish works of Sayajirao Gaekwad, Maharaja of Baroda next

The Maharastra government has spent Rs 4 crores to purchase copies of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's philosophical works. The books will find their way to nearly 12,000 libraries across the state free of cost.

While Maharashtra government, has in the past, promoted books of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Balgangadhar Tilak this is the first time that a Sangh Parivar ideologue's book is being given away free of cost to libraries. The Devendra Fadnavis government has bought 10,000 copies of Deendayal Upadhyay's philosophical works, according to news reports. Each of the books is spread into 15 separate volumes costing the exchequer for Rs 4 crores.

The copies will be sent to thousands of libraries in the state.

The philosophical works have been collated from various sources according to education department officials of the state. The books contain Upadhyay's speeches, letters, other writings and intellectual discourses. The 15 volumes contain works published from 1940 to 1968. The government has purchased copies of his collated works edited by Mahesh Chandra Sharma and published by Prabhat Publications.

Officials of the Maharashtra Education department have told the media that the decision to purchase the books and promote them in libraries was part of the programme undertaken by the government during Upadhyay's birth centenary celebrations. The department also intends to publish literary works of Sayajirao Gaekwad, Maharaja of Baroda.

The move may just make way for the opposition to allege an attempt by the Devendra Fadnavis government of 'saffronizing education.'

OneIndia News