Author:
Publication: India Today
Date: September 30, 2002
Union Human resource development
Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has never fought shy of controversy, the most
talked-about one being his initiative to revise school syllabi. He spoke
to Associate Editor Rajeev Deshpande about allegations that his ministry
was overseeing "saffronisation" of school texts.
Q.: What are the implications of
the Supreme Court verdict clearing the new curriculum framework?
A.: The verdict has vindicated
our position. The so-called saffronisation charge is negated.
Q.: Was there any need to revise
schooltexts prescribed by the Central Board for Secondary Education?
A.: Upgradation of texts is an
ongoing process. There have been significant advances in the fields of
information and communication technology, bio-technology and environmental
sciences. Should students be denied the benefits of these developments?
President A.P.J. Kalam has written a thoughtful document on his vision
for the future. Should not at least part of it be available as a school
text? 9/11 is important; students should know that there is a global war
against terrorism.
Q.: What were the specific problems
with previous textbooks?
A.: The idea is to have textbooks
that are sensitive towards the sentiments of all communities and which
help generate harmony. References to one community as plunderers or another
as having indulged in rapine are unnecessary. We believe in sarva dharma
sambhav. We have tried to reduce the load schoolchildren have to carry
in their bags and make academics less difficult.
Q.: Your critics insist that a Hindutva
agenda is being enforced.
A.: Have they seen the books? If
there are objections, we are prepared to examine them.
Q.: You had once suggested that
certain aspects of social studies and history are deliberately overlooked.
A.: That is happening. For example,
the discoveries involving the Saraswati civilisation are ignored as they
are in conflict with the oft-parroted view that Aryans invaded the subcontinent
and subsumed existing cultures. In West Bengal, textbooks show Lenin as
the inspiration of the Freedom Struggle. Writing on history and social
sciences was politically motivated to cater to Marxist vote banks. It is
appeasement through textbooks. Since they have been guilty of biased writing,
they now feel that others will do the same.
Q.: The introduction of study of
religions has kicked off a controversy.
A.: Knowledge about religions,
if imparted in classrooms, may be better than picking up information on
the street or from a prejudiced author.
