Thiruvananthapuram: The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has corrected a controversial error in a Class 4 history textbook after reports highlighted an inaccurate reference to freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose’s departure from India.

The textbook had originally stated that Bose left India and fled to Germany out of fear of the British. This claim sparked criticism after a report by MediaOne brought the issue to public attention, pointing out that the statement distorted historical facts and misrepresented the leader’s legacy.

Following the backlash, SCERT revised the text. The corrected version now states that Bose left India for political reasons, aligning with the historical consensus that his departure was a strategic decision to mobilize international support against British colonial rule.

SCERT officials confirmed the amendment and stated that an investigation is underway to determine whether the error was accidental or intentional. The director of SCERT assured that necessary measures will be taken to ensure such inaccuracies do not recur in educational materials.

Historians emphasize that Subhas Chandra Bose, remembered for his leadership of the Indian National Army and his uncompromising struggle against colonial powers, did not act out of fear but out of political determination. The correction is seen as essential for safeguarding the accuracy of historical education and ensuring that students learn an authentic account of India’s freedom struggle.