Religious sentiments and a textbook

Religion becomes controversial again. In Kerala, a small state in India, a seventh standard social science book has sparked political and religious controversy. The religious organisations and Opposition parties have found a chapter in the textbook as spreading communism and atheism. They also say that the Marxist government was trying to propagate Marxist ideology through the book.

Even after the Opposition and the religious organisations protesting against the controversial book, the government is so adamant of not withdrawing the textbook. Meanwhile the government has appointed an expert committee to look into the complaints raised regarding the textbook.

A chapter in the social textbook tells a story of a boy born to parents of different religions (Hindu father and Muslim mother). At the admission time, the principal asks about the religion. The father says that the boy will choose his own religion when he becomes mature. The Opposition parties and the religious groups have questioned it asking if the statement reflected secularists’ idea or anti-religious sentiments. But what is the rational of their questioning? In this modern world, inter-religious marriages are common and no parent can insist that his or her son should be brought up according to his or her ways. It is better that the kids choose, if at all needed, later when they mature.

Another controversy is based on India’s first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru’s vision on religion. The textbook quoting Nehru says that he did not want religious customs to be followed at his cremation. But those who oppose the textbook say that Nehru’s words were misinterpreted only to propagate atheism.

Moreover the history has not been twisted to influx Marxist ideologues. Kerala’s freedom struggle is associated only with farmer’s struggles and if this struggle was not mentioned, then Kerala won’t be having a freedom struggle to say. And no one can say that these farmer’s struggles, which are part and parcel of Kerala’s should not be included because Communists were involved more in it.

Soon after the book was introduced, the Congress party’s youth and students wing went on a rampage on he streets with agitations and protest meetings. For the last one week, the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students Union (Congress’ youth wing and students union) activists clashed with the police in the streets. Many persons, including police personnel, were injured and public property was damaged. Even the Congress took up the agitation in the state assembly and outside.

Along with the political parties, the religious and caste groups have joined the demand of withdrawal of the textbook. The Church has threatened to launch a statewide agitation if the government failed to withdraw not only the controversial chapter but also the entire textbook. Several Muslim organisations have also joined hands with the opposition and other religious groups against the Marxist government.

With all the controversy looming around, I feel that there is no need to withdraw the textbook as it only sends a good message. Even at a tender age, there is no need to inject religious sentiments. Let the boy think of his own religion or let him become even an atheist, a true human being. In a world, where religious fundamentalism is on he rise, let the children learn to be humans. It builds up tolerance and inculcates secular thoughts among the students. The book is a stepping stone in this regard and why then this hate drama.