Pti

Bhopal: A class 8 Sanskrit textbook being taught in the CBSE-affiliated schools in Madhya Pradesh has got the facts wrong about the 1962 Sino-Indian war, as it claims that India had defeated China.

A chapter on the country's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in the textbook titled 'Sukritika', says "with Nehru's efforts, India defeated China".

Lucknow-based Kriti Prakashan Private Limited, the publisher of the book, admitted its "mistake" and attributed it to a "human error".

The chapter, titled 'Shri Jawaharlal Nehru', talks about the Congress stalwart's achievements and admires his acumen after China invaded India in 1962.

"During Jawaharlal Nehru's stint as the prime minister, China waged a war against India in 1962. With Nehru's efforts, India defeated China," it (Sukritika part 3, page 36) reads.

Talking to PTI over phone from Lucknow, Savita Tiwari of Kriti Prakashan Private Ltd said, "We admit our mistake in the book. It was a human error."

She added that they detected the error last month and had already issued a corrigendum in this regard on their website.

She said the book had been authored by Umesh Prasad Rastogi and Somdutt Shukla, who had passed away.

According to Tiwari, 'Sukritika' was being taught in different classes in different states.

The School Education Department of Madhya Pradesh, meanwhile, has written to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), informing it about the error in the book, an official said.

India-China ties are currently under strain after New Delhi, along with Bhutan, raised concerns over Beijing's attempts to build a road in the disputed Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector.

The armies of the two countries are engaged in a face-off over the disputed site.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley had recently said India had "learnt a lesson from the 1962 war with China" and the Indian forces were battle-ready.

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