Created by FreeToDisagree
Last edited February 16, 2026
->FreeToDisagree
m Removed the religion-parameter from the infobox since it is no longer in use.
 
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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Vasudev Devnani
| name               = Vasudev Devnani
| image =  
| image               = Vasudev Devnani (cropped).jpg
| caption =  
| caption             = Devnani in 2024
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|1|11}}
| imagesize = 180
| birth_place = [[Ajmer]]
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|1|11}}
| residence = [[Ajmer]]
| birth_place         = [[Ajmer]], [[Ajmer State]], India
| death_date =
| residence           = 28, Sant Kanwar Ram Colony, Foy Sagar Road, [[Ajmer]]
| death_place =  
| death_date         =  
| constituency1 = [[Ajmer (Rajasthan Assembly constituency)|Ajmer]]
| death_place         =
| office2 = State Minister for Education, [[Government of Rajasthan]]
| office              = 18th [[List of speakers of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start2 = {{start date|df=y|2003|12|9}}
| term_start          = 21 December 2023
| term_end2 = {{end date|df=y|2008|12|10}}
| term_end            =
|  
| governor            = [[Kalraj Mishra]]<br/>[[Haribhau Bagade]]
| party = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| 1blankname          = Chief Minister<br/>Dy. Chief Ministers
| spouse = Indira Devnani
| 1namedata          = [[Bhajan Lal Sharma]]<br/>[[Diya Kumari]] & [[Prem Chand Bairwa]]
| office1 =  State Minister for School Education Independent Charge [[Government of Rajasthan]]
| 2blankname          = Deputy
| term_start1 = {{start date|df=y|2014|10|28}}
| 2namedata          =
| term_end1 = {{end date|df=y|2018|12|11}}
| predecessor        = [[C. P. Joshi]]
|  
| successor          = 
| relatives =  
| office1            = Member of the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
| website =
| constituency1       = [[Ajmer North (Rajasthan Assembly constituency)|Ajmer North]]
| footnotes =
| term_start1        = 2008
| date =
| predecessor1        = ''New constituency''
| year =
| term_end1          =
| source =
| office2             = Minister of State for Education, [[Government of Rajasthan]]
| term_start2         = {{start date|df=y|2003|12|9}}
| term_end2           = {{end date|df=y|2008|12|10}}|
| term_start3        = {{start date|df=y|2014|10|28}}
| term_end3          = {{end date|df=y|2018|12|11}}
| party              = [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Indira Devnani|1974}}
| education          = Engineering
| father              = Bhawan Das Devnani
| occupation          = [[Politician]]
| children            = 1 son and 2 daughters
| profession          = Teacher
| mother              = Sakhi Devi
| footnotes = Source [https://assembly.rajasthan.gov.in/HamareVidhayak/RptMemberSearch.aspx]
}}
}}
'''Vasudev Devnani''' is an Indian politician from [[Rajasthan]] belonging to the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. He was the Minister of State for School Education Independent Charge Government of Rajasthan, serving as its "RSS face," after the [[Hindutva|Hindu nationalist]] organisation [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) of which he is a member.
'''Vasudev Devnani''' is an Indian politician from [[Rajasthan]] serving as the 18th [[List of speakers of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly|speaker]] of the [[Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]] since December 2024. He is also an [[Member of Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]] from [[Ajmer North Assembly constituency|Ajmer North]]. He is a member of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]. Vasudev Devnani is the first [[Sindhis in India|Sindhi]] to become speaker in Rajasthan assembly.<ref name="India Today Sindhi">{{Cite news|title=In BJP's 3-chief ministers equation, the Sangh constant and caste variables|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bjp-3-chief-ministers-equation-rajasthan-madhya-pradesh-chhattisgarh-sangh-constant-caste-variables-2475126-2023-12-12|website=India Today|language=en|date=12 December 2023}}</ref>


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Vasudev Devnani was born in [[Ajmer]] on 11 January 1950. He received [[B.E.]] degree in Electrical Engineering from one of the finest and oldest colleges, MBM Engineering college, Jodhpur. After that he went on to an academic career, eventually becoming the Dean of Vidhya Bhawan Polytechnic College in [[Udaipur]].<ref name=sindhuworld/>
Vasudev Devnani was born in [[Ajmer]] on 11 January 1950. He received [[B.E.]] degree in Electrical Engineering from one of the finest and oldest colleges, MBM Engineering college, Jodhpur. After that he went on to an academic career, eventually becoming the Dean of Vidhya Bhawan Polytechnic College in [[Udaipur]].<ref name=sindhuworld/>


He is married to Indira Devnani, a retired school teacher. The couple have one son and two daughters.<ref name=sindhuworld>[http://www.thesindhuworld.com/vasudev_devnani.html Famous Sindhi Educationist & Politician: Prof. Vasudev Devnani], Sundu World, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref>
He is married to Indira Devnani, a retired school teacher. The couple have one son and two daughters.<ref name=sindhuworld>[http://www.thesindhuworld.com/vasudev_devnani.html Famous Sindhi Educationist & Politician: Prof. Vasudev Devnani] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220181617/http://thesindhuworld.com/vasudev_devnani.html |date=20 February 2015 }}, Sundu World, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref>


== Political career ==
== Political career ==
Devnani joined the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) at a young age and later its student wing [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP), serving as the Rajasthan state president of the latter for nine years. Subsequently, he joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name=sindhuworld/>
Devnani joined the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) at a young age and later its student wing [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad]] (ABVP), serving as the Rajasthan state president of the latter for nine years.<ref name="India Today Sindhi"/> Subsequently, he joined the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP).<ref name=sindhuworld/>


Devnani was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from the [[Ajmer North (Rajasthan Assebly constituency)|Ajmer North]] constituency in [[2003 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2003]], obtaining 45% of the total votes.<ref name=sindhuworld/>  He was elected again in [[2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2008]] and [[2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2013]].<ref name=assembly>[http://rajassembly.nic.in/MembersPage.asp?DivNo=157 My Bio-data: Vasudev Devnani], Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref>
Devnani was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from the [[Ajmer North (Rajasthan Assembly constituency)|Ajmer North]] constituency in [[2003 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2003]], obtaining 45% of the total votes.<ref name=sindhuworld/>  He was elected again in [[2008 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2008]] and [[2013 Rajasthan Legislative Assembly election|2013]].<ref name=assembly>[http://rajassembly.nic.in/MembersPage.asp?DivNo=157 My Bio-data: Vasudev Devnani], Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref>


He was a Minister of State for technical education in the Ministry of [[Vasundhara Raje]] in [[Vasundhara Raje ministry (2003–08)|2003-08]]. He was a Minister of State with an independent charge for primary and secondary education in the Ministry of [[Vasundhara Raje]] in [[Vasundhara Raje ministry (2013–)|2013-18]].<ref name=sindhuworld/><ref name=council>[http://rajassembly.nic.in/cabinet.htm Rajasthan Government - Council of Ministers], Rajasthan Government, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref><ref name=TOI>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rajes-will-writ-large-on-expansion-detractors-cut-to-size/articleshow/44958288.cms Raje's will writ large on expansion, detractors cut to size], The Times of India, 28 October 2014.</ref>
He was a Minister of State for technical education in the Ministry of [[Vasundhara Raje]] in [[Vasundhara Raje ministry (2003–08)|2003-08]]. He was a Minister of State with an independent charge for primary and secondary education in the Ministry of [[Vasundhara Raje]] in [[Vasundhara Raje ministry (2013–)|2013-18]].<ref name=sindhuworld/><ref name=council>[http://rajassembly.nic.in/cabinet.htm Rajasthan Government - Council of Ministers], Rajasthan Government, retrieved 2015-04-05.</ref><ref name=TOI>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Rajes-will-writ-large-on-expansion-detractors-cut-to-size/articleshow/44958288.cms Raje's will writ large on expansion, detractors cut to size], The Times of India, 28 October 2014.</ref>


== Political and administrative views ==
== Political and administrative views ==
According to [[India Today]], he is striking a balance between modernity, essential reforms and the BJP agenda of Hindu culture-based education.<ref name="indiatoday">[http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vasundhara-raje-rajasthan-vasudev-devnani-education/1/416969.html Who is this saffron but progressive face of Raje government], India Today, 4 February 2015.</ref> Among his [[saffronisation]] measures are celebrating [[Basant Panchami]] in schools, singing [[Saraswati Vandana Mantra|Saraswati vandana]] and performing [[Surya Namaskara|surya namaskar]] every day. He plans to introduce Rajasthan heroes such as [[Maharana Pratap]] in the school textbooks, correcting the alleged "anti-Hindu agenda" of the previous [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] government. 186 new Model Schools are being named after [[Vivekananda]]. Despite being the "RSS face" in the Vasundhara Raje government, India Today believed he was exhibiting great political and administrative skill in ensuring that the saffron moves do not overshadow the real task of improving the education system.<ref name=indiatoday/> However, his measures to introduce compulsory Saraswati puja and surya namaskar have invited opposition from the schools run by the [[Arya Samaj]], Muslim community and the Christian missionaries.<ref name=Saraswati>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Govt-and-private-schools-to-observe-Saraswati-puja-on-Basant-Panchami/articleshow/46001385.cms Govt and private schools to observe Saraswati puja on Basant Panchami], The Times of India, 24 January 2015.</ref><ref name=suryanamaskar>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Surya-namaskar-made-compulsory-in-48000-schools-Rajasthan/articleshow/46114163.cms Surya Namaskar made compulsory in 48,000 schools in Rajasthan], The Times of India, 4 February 2015.</ref>
According to [[India Today]], he is striking a balance between modernity, essential reforms and the BJP agenda of Indian culture-based education.<ref name="indiatoday">[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/vasundhara-raje-rajasthan-vasudev-devnani-education-238724-2015-02-04 Who is this saffron but progressive face of Raje government], India Today, 4 February 2015.</ref>
 
Among his measures are celebrating [[Basant Panchami]] in schools, singing [[Saraswati Vandana Mantra|Saraswati vandana]] and performing [[Surya Namaskara|surya namaskar]] every day. However, his measures to introduce compulsory Saraswati puja and surya namaskar have invited opposition from the schools run by the [[Arya Samaj]], Muslim community and the Christian missionaries.<ref name="Saraswati">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Govt-and-private-schools-to-observe-Saraswati-puja-on-Basant-Panchami/articleshow/46001385.cms Govt and private schools to observe Saraswati puja on Basant Panchami], The Times of India, 24 January 2015.</ref><ref name="suryanamaskar">[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Surya-namaskar-made-compulsory-in-48000-schools-Rajasthan/articleshow/46114163.cms Surya Namaskar made compulsory in 48,000 schools in Rajasthan], The Times of India, 4 February 2015.</ref>


Devnani declared that the "Indian value system" would be introduced in schools from 2015-16. He called for a National Education Regulatory Board for the fast implementation of the Indian value system in schools nationwide.<ref name=yoga>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Yoga-moral-science-to-be-taught-in-schools-from-next-year-Minister/articleshow/45938443.cms Yoga, moral science to be taught in schools from next year: Minister], The Times of India, 19 January 2015.</ref>
Devnani declared that the "Indian value system" would be introduced in schools from 2015-16. He called for a National Education Regulatory Board for the fast implementation of the Indian value system in schools nationwide.<ref name=yoga>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Yoga-moral-science-to-be-taught-in-schools-from-next-year-Minister/articleshow/45938443.cms Yoga, moral science to be taught in schools from next year: Minister], The Times of India, 19 January 2015.</ref>
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In April 2015, Devnani hit the headlines with stories that reported that [[Isaac Newton]], [[Pythagoras]] and [[Akbar]] are being eliminated from the school textbooks.<ref name=indianexpress>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/akbar-newton-may-make-way-for-local-heroes-in-rajasthan-textbooks/ Akbar, Newton may make way for ‘local heroes’ in Rajasthan textbooks], Indian Express, 7 April 2015.</ref><ref name=firstpost>[http://www.firstpost.com/politics/rss-strikes-again-foreigners-isaac-newton-pythagoras-to-be-chucked-out-of-rajasthan-text-books-2187949.html RSS strikes again: 'Foreigners' Isaac Newton, Pythagoras to be chucked out of Rajasthan text books], Firstpost, 7 April 2015.</ref> "Why should our children only learn about Akbar, the Great? Why not Maharana Pratap, the Great?" he reportedly asked. "Our children are constantly learning about foreign rulers, mathematicians, scientists et al." These "foreign" scientists and intellectuals are being eliminated in favour of "local and national" heroes, [[Veer Savarkar]], [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], [[Bhagat Singh]], [[Maharaja Suraj Mal]], [[Aryabhata]] and [[Bhaskaracharya]].<ref name=indianexpress/>
In April 2015, Devnani hit the headlines with stories that reported that [[Isaac Newton]], [[Pythagoras]] and [[Akbar]] are being eliminated from the school textbooks.<ref name=indianexpress>[http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/akbar-newton-may-make-way-for-local-heroes-in-rajasthan-textbooks/ Akbar, Newton may make way for ‘local heroes’ in Rajasthan textbooks], Indian Express, 7 April 2015.</ref><ref name=firstpost>[http://www.firstpost.com/politics/rss-strikes-again-foreigners-isaac-newton-pythagoras-to-be-chucked-out-of-rajasthan-text-books-2187949.html RSS strikes again: 'Foreigners' Isaac Newton, Pythagoras to be chucked out of Rajasthan text books], Firstpost, 7 April 2015.</ref> "Why should our children only learn about Akbar, the Great? Why not Maharana Pratap, the Great?" he reportedly asked. "Our children are constantly learning about foreign rulers, mathematicians, scientists et al." These "foreign" scientists and intellectuals are being eliminated in favour of "local and national" heroes, [[Veer Savarkar]], [[Subhas Chandra Bose]], [[Bhagat Singh]], [[Maharaja Suraj Mal]], [[Aryabhata]] and [[Bhaskaracharya]].<ref name=indianexpress/>


In March 2016, Devnani announced that "major changes" were being made in the school curriculum, by including the biographies of freedom fighters, so as to ensure that "no one like [[Kanhaiya Kumar]]" would be born again. In view of [[JNU sedition controversy|the events at the Jawaharlal Nehru University]], he said that it was necessary to inculcate a "feeling of patriotism" in the students.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/books-to-be-changed-so-that-no-one-like-kanhaiya-kumar-is-born-rajasthan-minister-1288390 http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/books-to-be-changed-so-that-no-one-like-kanhaiya-kumar-is-born-rajasthan-minister-1288390], NDTV News, 18 March 2016.</ref><ref>[[Kanhaiya Kumar]] is the JNU student union president, who was arrested on [[sedition]] charges over a controversial event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.</ref>
In March 2016, Devnani announced that "major changes" were being made in the school curriculum, by including the biographies of freedom fighters, so as to ensure that "no one like [[Kanhaiya Kumar]]" would be born again. In view of [[JNU sedition controversy|the events at the Jawaharlal Nehru University]], he said that it was necessary to inculcate a "feeling of patriotism" in the students.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/books-to-be-changed-so-that-no-one-like-kanhaiya-kumar-is-born-rajasthan-minister-1288390 http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/books-to-be-changed-so-that-no-one-like-kanhaiya-kumar-is-born-rajasthan-minister-1288390], NDTV News, 18 March 2016.</ref>
 
== External links ==
* [https://assembly.rajasthan.gov.in/Containers/Members/MemberBioData.aspx/ Vasu Dev Devnani Bio Data]


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Saffronisation]]
* [[Bhajan Lal Sharma ministry]]
* [[Dinanath Batra]]
* [[List of speakers of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
* [[Smriti Irani]]


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party politicians from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
[[Category:Rajasthani people]]
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[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members]]
[[Category:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh members]]
[[Category:People from Ajmer]]
[[Category:People from Ajmer]]
[[Category:Rajasthan MLAs 2018–2023]]
[[Category:Rajasthan MLAs 2023–2028]]
[[Category:Speakers of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:M.B.M. University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 16:13, 16 February 2026


Vasudev Devnani
Devnani in 2024
18th Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
21 December 2023
GovernorKalraj Mishra
Haribhau Bagade
Chief Minister
Dy. Chief Ministers
Bhajan Lal Sharma
Diya Kumari & Prem Chand Bairwa
Preceded byC. P. Joshi
Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
2008
Preceded byNew constituency
ConstituencyAjmer North
Minister of State for Education, Government of Rajasthan
In office
9 December 2003 (2003-12-09) – 10 December 2008 (2008-12-10)
In office
28 October 2014 (2014-10-28) – 11 December 2018 (2018-12-11)
Personal details
Born (1950-01-11) 11 January 1950 (age 76)
Ajmer, Ajmer State, India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
Spouse(s)
Indira Devnani
(
m. 1974)
Children1 son and 2 daughters
Parents
  • Bhawan Das Devnani (father)
  • Sakhi Devi (mother)
Residence28, Sant Kanwar Ram Colony, Foy Sagar Road, Ajmer
EducationEngineering
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionTeacher
Source [1]

Vasudev Devnani is an Indian politician from Rajasthan serving as the 18th speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly since December 2024. He is also an MLA from Ajmer North. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Vasudev Devnani is the first Sindhi to become speaker in Rajasthan assembly.[1]

Life and career[edit | edit source]

Vasudev Devnani was born in Ajmer on 11 January 1950. He received B.E. degree in Electrical Engineering from one of the finest and oldest colleges, MBM Engineering college, Jodhpur. After that he went on to an academic career, eventually becoming the Dean of Vidhya Bhawan Polytechnic College in Udaipur.[2]

He is married to Indira Devnani, a retired school teacher. The couple have one son and two daughters.[2]

Political career[edit | edit source]

Devnani joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age and later its student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), serving as the Rajasthan state president of the latter for nine years.[1] Subsequently, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[2]

Devnani was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan from the Ajmer North constituency in 2003, obtaining 45% of the total votes.[2] He was elected again in 2008 and 2013.[3]

He was a Minister of State for technical education in the Ministry of Vasundhara Raje in 2003-08. He was a Minister of State with an independent charge for primary and secondary education in the Ministry of Vasundhara Raje in 2013-18.[2][4][5]

Political and administrative views[edit | edit source]

According to India Today, he is striking a balance between modernity, essential reforms and the BJP agenda of Indian culture-based education.[6]

Among his measures are celebrating Basant Panchami in schools, singing Saraswati vandana and performing surya namaskar every day. However, his measures to introduce compulsory Saraswati puja and surya namaskar have invited opposition from the schools run by the Arya Samaj, Muslim community and the Christian missionaries.[7][8]

Devnani declared that the "Indian value system" would be introduced in schools from 2015-16. He called for a National Education Regulatory Board for the fast implementation of the Indian value system in schools nationwide.[9]

In April 2015, Devnani hit the headlines with stories that reported that Isaac Newton, Pythagoras and Akbar are being eliminated from the school textbooks.[10][11] "Why should our children only learn about Akbar, the Great? Why not Maharana Pratap, the Great?" he reportedly asked. "Our children are constantly learning about foreign rulers, mathematicians, scientists et al." These "foreign" scientists and intellectuals are being eliminated in favour of "local and national" heroes, Veer Savarkar, Subhas Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Maharaja Suraj Mal, Aryabhata and Bhaskaracharya.[10]

In March 2016, Devnani announced that "major changes" were being made in the school curriculum, by including the biographies of freedom fighters, so as to ensure that "no one like Kanhaiya Kumar" would be born again. In view of the events at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, he said that it was necessary to inculcate a "feeling of patriotism" in the students.[12]

External links[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "In BJP's 3-chief ministers equation, the Sangh constant and caste variables". India Today. 12 December 2023.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Famous Sindhi Educationist & Politician: Prof. Vasudev Devnani Archived 20 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Sundu World, retrieved 2015-04-05.
  3. My Bio-data: Vasudev Devnani, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, retrieved 2015-04-05.
  4. Rajasthan Government - Council of Ministers, Rajasthan Government, retrieved 2015-04-05.
  5. Raje's will writ large on expansion, detractors cut to size, The Times of India, 28 October 2014.
  6. Who is this saffron but progressive face of Raje government, India Today, 4 February 2015.
  7. Govt and private schools to observe Saraswati puja on Basant Panchami, The Times of India, 24 January 2015.
  8. Surya Namaskar made compulsory in 48,000 schools in Rajasthan, The Times of India, 4 February 2015.
  9. Yoga, moral science to be taught in schools from next year: Minister, The Times of India, 19 January 2015.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Akbar, Newton may make way for ‘local heroes’ in Rajasthan textbooks, Indian Express, 7 April 2015.
  11. RSS strikes again: 'Foreigners' Isaac Newton, Pythagoras to be chucked out of Rajasthan text books, Firstpost, 7 April 2015.
  12. http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/books-to-be-changed-so-that-no-one-like-kanhaiya-kumar-is-born-rajasthan-minister-1288390, NDTV News, 18 March 2016.