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Friday, Jun 27, 2008
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On tolerance

The article “Tolerance under attack” (June 26) is timely. The political cauldron in Kerala is simmering over a non-issue. The agitation against the so-called objectionable content in the VII standard social sciences textbook, spearheaded by the church, the NSS and Muslim organisations should not be viewed in isolation. It is the visible manifestation of a larger game plan to oust the democratically elected LDF government. It was not long ago that these communal organisations made a similar but unsuccessful attempt, termed the second ‘liberation struggle,’ to overthrow the government. The renewed spate of violence over the textbook issue is just another move scripted and directed by these religious outfits to foment trouble and create chaos in the educational, cultural and social spheres.

By publishing the controversial part of the text, The Hindu has done a great service as it provides ample opportunity for the people to know the truth. I am yet to understand which portion of the text is so objectionable as to promote atheism and where the veiled attempt to propagate the communist ideology is. It is a shame that Kerala, the birthplace of Sri Sankara and Sri Narayana Guru, who stood for equality and brotherhood, has become a place where a few religious organisations are spewing venom.

T.N. Venugopal,

Kochi

The article exposes the growing intolerance of the Congress- led UDF and regional forces to the LDF government. The UDF’s agenda is not to save religion but to consolidate its vote bank.

The common man in Kerala is hardly interested in the content of the VII standard social sciences textbook.

C.K. Rahul,

Hyderabad

Civil society has been held to ransom by the forces of orthodoxy for over a week with a view to disturbing the ruling Left Front regime. The casteist and communal forces of Kerala, cutting across religion, in their repetition of the notorious 1959 ‘liberation struggle’ have been on the streets setting fire to everything that comes their way. The ‘objectionable’ content they are referring to in the textbook actually extols the values of secularism and the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.

Religious fundamentalists, backed by the Congress, are whipping up communal passions by raising the bogey of infringement of religious rights and imposition of atheism. The Left Front deserves praise for its bold defence of the ideology of humanism.

M.S. Joe,

Muvattupuzha

That the protests against the textbook have been choreographed by the Congress-led UDF shows that the party does not lag behind the BJP in exploiting religious sentiments for narrow political ends.

Nirmala Asokan,

Cuddalore

The protests and attacks orchestrated by the Congress-led UDF and its supporters against the so-called objectionable content in the social science textbook is nothing but a ploy to further the vested interests of narrow-minded communal institutions to hijack the educational policy that aims to promote democratic and secular values.

It is shameful that thousands of books have been burned by protesters whose leaders have refused any kind of negotiation on the issue. The act exposes the true colour of the protests and is nothing but a blatant attempt by communal institutions to preserve their stranglehold on education.

Yacoub Z. Kuruvilla,

Mumbai

A social studies textbook for Class VII students targets the age group of 11 to 12. The impressionable age is not ideal for teaching the evils of religious obscurantism and the virtues of religious tolerance. Social studies for students of 11 and 12 years should include lessons on basic good behaviour, virtuous social conduct, and the need to love, and take pride in, the motherland.

The State Level Curriculum Steering Committee for preparing textbooks should be headed by an eminent educationist, well versed in the psychology and requirements of education at the basic level, and not by a politician in power.

B.K.S. Nair,

Thiruvananthapuram

The protests organised by the UDF and its partners against the social sciences textbook are baseless. The lesson that has created a controversy promotes secular thinking. But the textbook, on the whole, is mediocre. The lessons are shallow, poor in content, and do not give a truthful account of history. Particularly, the section that deals with Kerala’s peasant movement is biased and seeks to promote the Communist ideology.

The opposition should, therefore, protest against the quality of the textbook as a whole.

K. Aravindakshan,

Thrissur

The intention of including the lesson on Jeevan is noble but not the wisdom of doing so, because religion and caste have become so deep rooted in India that any attempt to uproot them could trigger a flood of protests.

P.U. Krishnan,

Udhagamandalam

Much hype is being generated over some passages in a textbook prescribed for students. If the protesters show similar enthusiasm in keeping young minds away from the media, particularly magazines and television, we can create a more responsible society.

Whatever the case, the destruction of textbooks exposes the true colour of a section of society. No religion or faith justifies such actions. Issues can be sorted out through discussions.

U.G. Nair,

Kochi

No certificate of caste and religion should be issued by any institution. All marriages should be registered. Only government marriage certificates should be recognised. Caste and religion columns should be removed from school, college and job applications.

The words denoting caste and religion should be deleted from even the Constitution. Will all this ever happen?

S. Rajamanickam,

Ariyalur

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