Author: J.S. Rajput
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: September 29, 2004
A shrinking group of eminent thinkers,
authors and progressives are aggrieved and angry. They thought they would
be brought back at the speed of lightening and installed ceremoniously
in the seats of power they had occupied for decades together without any
interruption. Alas, that was not to be. Whatever little they have gathered
so far is naturally unsatisfactory, not up to their expectations and stature.
Their first war cry is the immediate
annihilation of 250-odd textbooks prepared in response to the Curriculum
Framework for School Education, approved by the Supreme Court of India
in September 2000. They have, for the time being, condescended to focus
only on social sciences and history. It is disappointing that even these
are to continue in the 'current' academic session. They are to be "supported"
by reference books prepared 30 years ago. So what if children will now
read about East Pakistan instead of Bangladesh and continue to imbibe information
about the great USSR without getting any idea that it had actually bitten
the dust.
The concept of reference books in
addition to textbooks in schools is indeed a new innovation in the Indian
school context. Eleven-year-old sixth graders will now read textbooks with
instructions to delineate "communal" and "saffronised" portions, and then
pore over the reference books to "secularise" themselves. Children shall
no longer use terms like "mother earth", neither will they term the river
Ganga as "holy". Vedanta? Just forget it!
These pillars of the new establishment
have declared themselves as "non-political" for decades together, although
some of them are card-holding academics, and others gave their full-throated
support to a particular political party just before the general elections
this May. But then for them the truth is always red. Events did take a
very interesting turn this May with the election results in. Even those
among the secularists who had reconciled themselves to remaining in oblivion
for the rest of their lives suddenly saw sunshine dawn upon them. They
rushed to declare it as a mandate for a takeover.
Within days, the flock had come
together and their loud chirping was audible everywhere - particularly
in the sympathetic national media. Their plans and programmes were ready
within no time. They themselves were ready. To be appointed. To be included.
To shoulder responsibilities. To serve the downtrodden. Vacancies must
be created forthwith. Heads must roll. The lists of crimes of the "guilty"
were ready and available - free of cost. Those who perceived every educational
change not involving them as the "Talibanisation of education" were busy
suggesting the "right" individuals who could serve the "left" cause. A
new word now made its appearance in the discourse: "detoxification". This
becomes Priority Number One. A committee is set up to "detoxify" books.
Another searches for new meanings for the word "detoxification". A third
launches a massive search for evidence of "communalisation" in the existing
textbooks (I could have suggested several more if only they had consulted
me!).
But first things first. The history
books recently introduced must be withdrawn forthwith. These books highlight
the Indian ethos and India's contribution to world civilisation. They do
not denigrate Maharana Pratap, Shivaji, Guru Govind Singh Sahib And Guru
Tegh Bahadur Sahib and other illustrious persons. In these books, Bhagat
Singh is not a "revolutionary terrorist" - an interesting coinage indeed.
Today, a secular educational plan
for the benefit of the nation has been released by a group of eminent ones.
The first and foremost point of action perceived for the future is that
all appointments, postings, promotions and transfers in the long list of
institutions and organisations must be inquired into and appropriate remedial
action taken urgently.
A grateful nation must now pay tribute
to this novel idea. It has the potential of keeping everyone busy for a
full five years.
The writer is former director, NCERT