Class III textbooks in Jodhpur name rape accused Asaram as 'great saint'

Rape accused Asaram Bapu has been named as a 'great saint' in a book that is currently part of the moral science curriculum for class III students in Jodhpur schools. The list of great saints appears in Nyaya Ujala, a book by a Delhi-based publication. 

According to a report published in The Indian Express, on page 40 of the book Naya Ujala, the self styled  controversial godman has been featured alongside personalities like Guru Nanak, Swami Vivekananda, Mother Teresa and Ramakrishna Paramhansa among others.

The book claims that it follows NCERT’s Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation guidelines. Delhi-based Gurukul Prakashan is the publisher of this controversial book. 

Jodhpur, Rajasthan: Class 3 book shows Asaram as a Saint in a list of 'Country's famous saints'. pic.twitter.com/48TO2DoHcu

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 2, 2015

Meanwhile, the Jodhpur education department has feigned ignorance about the entire matter.

Speaking to IE, Jodhpur  District education officer said that he doesn't have any knowledge about the book. He said that there is no question of taking any action as they are not aware of the entire incident. This matter is likely to generate fresh outrage at a time when Asaram is under trial for serious allegations. 

Asaram has been in a jail in Jodhpur since September 2013. Two months later, he, along with his son Narayan Sai, was booked for the alleged rape of two sisters at their ashram in Gujarat's Surat.