A schoolteacher in Kerala has been allegedly killed by political activists who were protesting against the Marxist government’s education policies. A gruesome act has been performed.
A protest in the name of protecting religious pluralism as opposed to secularism has led to the brutal killing of James Augustine, who was allegedly kicked or trampled by the protesting Muslim Youth League activists in the southern district of Malappuram. And more pathetic is the way the politicians, the opposition political parties, reacted to the tragic incident.
The Congress, which is the second largest party in Kerala, along with its ally, the Indian Union Muslim league, are trying to portray the death as natural one. They said that Augustine had no major injuries and alleged that the Marxists were trying to take mileage of the situation.
Meanwhile, the ruling Marxist government had said that Augustine was a martyr of the unscrupulous strike. They blamed the Muslim league activists and also the Kerala Students Union (students wing of the Congress party) of unleashing terror in the state in the name of a book when the government had already made it clear to revise the book.
Whatever the opposition and the ruling may say or allege each other, the question here is something different. Both the Ruling and the Opposition had debated in the state Assembly for hours on the real cause of the teacher’s death but they did not indulge into the social aspect of the gruesome murder.
It is not just the killing of a teacher, but it shows us how the political scene in Kerala is changing. The political parties are trying to create fear through crimes, which is not good for the state. Is it that Kerala, which has a history of peace, giving way to treacherous political activities? It is something that Kerala has to divulge into.
The politicians, who are supposed to be with the people, are trying to shatter the peace in the society. For petty political gains, the politicians and the political parties do any kind of vulgarity and not ponder over the consequences of their acts on the society. They even do not think that they survive because of the people and their acts are condemnable.
The Opposition parties and religious organisations had been opposing the Class VII textbook, alleging it propagated atheism and communist ideology among students. The protest is still going on even though the Marxist Government had decided to revise the textbook. The protestors want the complete withdrawal of the textbook.
Showing posts with label Marxist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marxist. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Friday, 4 July 2008
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.
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.
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