Opinion - News Analysis   

Jeevan, the casteless

Here is the 58-word lesson in the eye of the textbook controversy in Kerala, titled Mathamillaatha Jeevan (Jeevan, the casteless), in translation:

After seating the parents, who had come with their ward, in the chairs before him, the headmaster began filling the application form.

“Son, what’s your name?”

“Jeevan”

“Good, nice name. Father’s name?”

“Anvar Rasheed.”

“Mother’s name?”

“Lakshmi Devi.”

The headmaster raised his head, looked at the parents and asked:

“Which religion should we write?”

“None. Write there is no religion.”

“Caste?”

“The same.”

The headmaster leaned back in his chair and asked a little gravely:

“What if he feels the need for a religion when he grows up?”

“Let him choose his religion when he feels so.”

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Anchoring inflation expectations
Green buildings
Russia returns to Afghanistan, on request
A world without torture
Swedish approach to youth detention
Tolerance under attack
Jeevan, the casteless
Corrections and Clarifications
In god’s name
Pakistan-U.S. ties
Economic crisis
One-sided

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu