After a four-month fight over what is to be taught
to students, the California State Board of Education
(SBE) has given a clear verdict voting 9-0 to
reject the 'Hindutva lessons'.
The board rather endorsed a set of recommendations
proposed by South Asian community groups and
scholars, which viewed India and Hinduism a
plural and heterogeneous entity rather than
a monolith as being proposed by the 'Sangh Parivar'
in the United States.
In January 2006, Friends of South Asia (FOSA)
and Coalition Against Communalism (CAC) wrote
a joint letter to the President of the California
State Board Education and the Director of Curriculum
Framework and Instructional Resources Division
bringing to their notice th! e serious concern
in the curriculum changes on ancient Indian
history and Hinduism The letter said, "We
see two overarching problems with the changes
proposed by the two groups in question: First,
while these groups at best represent only one
religious tradition, namely Hinduism, they nonetheless
have arrogated to themselves the right to speak
as authorities on ancient Indian history, which
in fact was home to a plurality of religions,
cultures and peoples. The second problem concerns
the validity of their claim to speak for "all
Hindus" in America, as well as Hindus elsewhere.
A brief review of these groups' background reveals
their consistent promotion of a sectarian, political
agenda, and their current effort is an attempt
to hijack the revision process."
The changes have been proposed by the 'Hindu
supremacist' groups like the Vedic Foundation
(VF) and the Hindu Education Foundation (HEF).
The VF is intimately close to the VHP of America
and the HEF is founded by the Hindu Swayamsevak
Sangh, the overseas counterpart of RSS. The
letter said, "We see two overarching problems
with the changes proposed by the two groups
in question: First, while these groups at best
represent only one religious tradition, namely
Hinduism, they nonetheless have arrogated to
themselves the right to speak as authorities
on ancient Indian history, which in fact was
home to a plurality of religions, cultures and
peoples. The second problem concerns the validity
of their claim to speak for "all Hindus"
in America, as well as Hindus elsewhere. A brief
review of these groups' background reveals their
consistent promotion of a sectarian, political
agenda, and their current effort is an attempt
to hijack the revision process."
The proposed changes came under severe criticism
from several independent Indian secular and
US-based Dalit groups, which spewed racist venom.
Sample this: Aryans should be represented as
being indigenous to India instead of migrating
from elsewhere, the harshness of the caste system
should be erased and it should be presented
as a benevolent institution, the word Dalit
should be eliminated, Hinduism should be characterised
as a monotheistic faith, women did not have
less rights than men but simply "different"
rights than men and so on.
When the 6th grade California history-social
science textbooks came up for review last year,
the HEF and the VF with a larger motive sought
to saffronise the plural Indian cultural fabric
with their ideological Hindu pan-nationalist
agenda into the curriculum. They were joined
by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), also
with ties to the VHP, in what appeared to be
a repeat! of the Sangh Parivar's attempt to
saffronise textbooks in India during the BJP
regime.
Among other groups, these changes were fiercely
contested by the Federation of Tamil Sangams
of North America (FeTNA), the Ambedkar Center
for Justice and Peace (ACJP) and the Guru Ravidass
Gurudwara (representing the Dalit community
of Sacramento).
A Control Review Panel of professors formed
by Heitzman, Witzel and Wolpert appointed by
the SBE was given carte blanche support by the
secular groups, historians and scholars including
Romila Thapar, one of the prominent scholars
on Indian history.
On March 8, after months of intense public debate
in print, radio and television media across
the US and mass petitions, the Board agreed
with the assessment of the secular groups and
rejected the Curriculum Commission's recommendations
in toto. Instead, the Board accepted the recommendations
of the History Social Science subcommittee which
met last week,! and whose recommendations reflect
prevailing academic opinion
against the majority of ideological edits proposed
by the HEF and the VF.
Hailing the SBE's decision, Hansraj Kajla, a
representative of the Dalit community of Sacramento,
applauded the SBE's decision. He said, "The
SBE decision represents a major victory for
California children, who will benefit from having
historically accurate accounts of ancient Indian
history."
Among other groups, these changes were fiercely
contested by the Federation of Tamil Sangams
of North America (FeTNA), the Ambedkar Center
for Justice ! and Peace (ACJP) and the Guru
Ravidass Gurudwara (representing the Dalit community
of Sacramento).
A Control Review Panel of professors formed
by Heitzman, Witzel and Wolpert appointed by
the SBE was given carte blanche support by the
secular groups, historians and scholars including
Romila Thapar, one of the prominent scholars
on Indian history.
On March 8, after months of intense public
debate in print, radio and television media
across the US and mass petitions, the Board
agreed with the assessment of the secular groups
and rejected the Curriculum Commission's recommendations
in toto. Instead, the Board accepted the recommendations
of the History Social Science subcommittee which
met last week, and whose recommendations reflect
prevailing academic opinion against the majority
of ideological edits proposed by the HEF and
the VF.
Hailing the SBE's decision, Hansraj Kajla, a
representative of the Dalit community of Sacramento,
applauded the SBE's decision. He ! said, "The
SBE decision represents a major victory for
California children, who will benefit from having
historically accurate accounts of ancient Indian
history."
The HAF however, has threatened the Board with
a lawsuit. Thillai Kumaran of FeTNA, a Tamil
community group, said "Threats of legal
action are a clear sign of desperation on the
part of the Sangh organisationsThe HAF however,
has threatened the Board with a lawsuit. Thillai
Kumaran of FeTNA, a Tamil community group, said
"Threats of legal action are a clear sign
of desperation on the part of the Sangh organisations.
