Author: V Sundaram (vsundaram@newstodaynet.com)
Publication: Newstodaynet.com
Date: December 23, 2005
URL: http://newstodaynet.com/23dec/ss1.htm
[Note from Hindu Vivek Kendra: We would not
like to brand 'America' as behind the conspiracy. But there are many, many
in the American academics, who do project an anit-Hinduism bias.]
As an unknown heathen with my racial and cultural
memories going back to the dawn of history, I am rather amused by the manner
in which the California Education Department has recently permitted some known
anti-Hindu baiters like Michael Witzel, professor of Sanskrit, Harvard University,
and some of his chosen suspects to intrude into (if not lurking house trespass!)
the textbook selection, evaluation and reform process, in gross violation
of established norms of decorum and decency.
Consequently, the Curriculum Commission in
California has agreed to incorporate the changes proposed by the representatives
of the Christian, the Jewish and the Muslim groups. But very unfortunately,
the changes proposed by Hindu groups, originally agreed for suitable incorporation
in the textbooks, are now being posted for re-review by an organised coterie
of Hindu-baiting academics!
I understand that the California Curriculum
Committee was approached in September by concerned American citizens on the
issue of social studies' textbooks being considered for Class VI to VIII.
Practitioners of different religious traditions complained that several passages
included in these textbooks needed extensive revision or editing, as they
contained either negative or incorrect observations or comments about the
religious beliefs and practices of the Jews, the Muslims, and the Hindus.
It was alleged that some of the contents were
downright racist and had the potential to create xenophobic or sensational
images in the minds of adolescent students. It was feared that it would definitely
have a deranging and negative impact on the self-respect and consequently
the self-identity of the Jewish-American, the Hindu-American, and the Muslim-American
children.
The Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS)
showed great sensitivity towards the issues raised by the Jewish, Islamic
and Christian groups. The institute submitted several corrections and suggestions
to ensure that sections on Judaism reflected Jewish understanding of the faith
and did not fan anti-Semitism.
The Council on Islamic Education (CIE) came
up with a proposal for alternative language for certain sections on Islam,
and the Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) and the Vedic Foundation (VF) gave
their considered inputs on Hindu dharma for suitable incorporation. The Curriculum
Commission and Content Review Panel (CRP) informed the California State Board
of Education (SBE), and on 8 November 2005, the ad hoc committee had approved
499 out of 684 proposed changes.
Many textual changes approved by the ad hoc
committee were really in the nature of the routine rectification of obvious
factual errors, such as the claim that 'Hindi is written with the Arabic alphabet,
which uses 18 letters that stand for sounds,' when everyone knows that Hindi
is written in the Devanagari script and has 52 characters.
The Jewish and the Hindu groups objected to
their scriptures being described as 'stories,' which suggested 'that the events
described are fictitious.' Making out a case for more respectful terminology
when describing Hindu dharma, the Hindu Education Foundation said that a textbook
reference to 'Gods and Goddesses from popular Hindu stories,' should be changed
to 'various forms of God from Hindu scriptures'.
What is most shocking and scandalous is that
several passages in the textbooks trivialised and ridiculed Hindu beliefs.
For example, one passage said: 'The monkey king Hanuman loved Rama so much
that it is said that he is present every time the Ramayana is told. So look
around, see any monkeys?' Hindus sought subtle but pertinent corrections,
such as replacing subject headings like 'Hindu Beliefs About Multiple Gods'
with the more accurate phrasing 'Hindu Beliefs About Various Forms of God'.
Professor Witzel of Harvard University is
a great champion of the Aryan Invasion Theory of India. He succeeded in persuading
the authorities to incorporate this as an inviolable fact in the textbooks.
It should not be forgotten that the Aryan Invasion Theory of India was manufactured,
marketed and sold as a common colonial product during the days of British
Raj and which was later lapped up by all the European historians, the highly
Anglicised Indian historians and the so-called 'secular' historians belonging
to the moribund leftist groups in India. The Hindu Education Foundation requested
the Californian Authorities to take note of the overwhelming evidence available
today against the Aryan Invasion Theory so as to make the presentation in
the textbooks more reasonable, balanced and in accord with different shades
of expert academic opinion.
There is no doubt whatsoever that all the
changes proposed by the Hindu groups and Hindu organisations were fair, reasonable
and legitimate. The education policy in any civilised country should take
due note of the time-honoured core teachings of the religion and culture of
minority groups so as to be in full tune with the established traditions of
the respective faiths, instilling a just pride in every child regarding his
or her own cultural and spiritual heritage.
While all these exercises to correct such
obvious errors or distortions or anomalies were being undertaken by the Californian
Educational Authorities, Prof Michael Witzel of Harvard's Sanskrit Department
wrote to the California State Board of Education on 8 November 2005, objecting
to the accommodation of the sensitivities and sensibilities of the Hindus.
Prof Witzel and his colleague Steve Farmer
collected signatures from over 50 scholars around the world, including worthies
like Prof Romila Thapar (India) and Prof Stanley Wolpert, without caring to
apply their minds to the proposed changes. I am totally convinced that Witzel
exclusively targeted Hindu-Americans, and that he has only a political agenda
of the most despicable kind.
Not withstanding all this politically engineered
controversies, it is a matter for great satisfaction that on 4 December 2005,
the California School Board accepted many changes desired by the Hindu community
in Grade VI textbooks on topics dealing with India and Hindu dharma. The corrections
were vetted by an ad hoc committee including renowned Indologist Dr Shiva
G Bajpai, whose indological services were hired by the Commission. But very
unfortunately, the Witzel intervention has led the Commission to appoint Witzel,
Wolpert and others as experts for a post-review process (Content Review Panel).
This is just like the accused being permitted to sit in judgement upon their
own antecedents and conduct.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has lodged
a strong protest against the grossly discriminatory, unfair, illegal and unequal
treatment accorded to the Hindus vis-à-vis other faith communities
by the California State Board of Education, by permitting in the last minute,
a mischievously planned post-process move by Witzel to undermine and circumvent
the considered recommendations of the 'ad hoc committee' and the review process
established by the Commission itself for the resolution of errors in textbooks.
I have also come to understand that during
the deliberations on the textbooks by the California State Board of Education,
Commissioner Munger, who identified himself as an Episcopalian, was the only
Board member who advocated accepting the views of the Witzel panel. Commissioner
Metzenburg said the Hindus should be able to recognise their own religion
when they read these textbooks. Metzenberg objected to the 'insensitive' approach
of the Witzel panel to the whole issue. When Witzel panel was asked to rectify
the statement that 'the Ramayana was written later than the Mahabharata, Witzel
commented in a contemptuous way: 'Who in Sixth Grade cares which epic was
'written' first?' Metzenberg retorted that 'it mattered to Hindus'.
The Jews in California requested the authorities
to remove the references that portrayed Christianity as an 'improvement' upon
Judaism, or a 'replacement' for Judaism. Likewise, the Hindus have noticed
that Buddhism and Jainism have been presented as 'improvements' over their
dharma. The Hindu Organisations have taken up this matter with the concerned
authorities, pointing out that this amounts to violation of Education Code
Section 600 44(a) and Subsection (b), which states that all students should
'become aware and accept the religious diversity while being allowed to remain
secure in any religious beliefs they may already have.'
It is very clear from all this that while
matters relating to Judaism, Christianity and Islam have been reviewed by
experts within those faith traditions, the California Department of Education
has followed a policy of positive discrimination against the Hindus in general
and American Hindus in particular by requisitioning the services of non-Hindu
academics who are neither experts in Indian History or Hindu dharma, nor practicing
Hindus. I won't be surprised if the anti-Hindu UPA Government in New Delhi
resorts to the political expedient of sending a specially chosen team of so-called
'secular' academicians headed by the likes of Romila Thapar and a few other
Communists to California for completing the work started by professor Witzel
& Co.
I would appeal to Hindus all over the world
to unite against this American conspiracy against us, drawing inspiration
from the fiery words of Swami Vivekananda: 'Let us have muscles of iron and
nerves of steel. Arise! Awake! And Stop Not Till The Goal Is Reached!'
(The writer is a retired IAS officer)
