Indian history books to feature black pages of massacres
From next year, school textbooks will present the problematic aspects of Indian integration: the massacres of Gujarat, of Ayodhya, and anti-Sikh clashes. Christians are enthusiastic about the idea.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has decided that as from next scholastic year (April 2007), history textbooks should include the country's most significant post-independence controversies. This means that from next year, high school students will be able to study about the massacres in Gujarat, the Ayodhya clashes, the anti-Sikh campaigns and so on. To date, the tendency has been to keep quiet about these episodes for fear of igniting conflicts between students of different religions. Prof. Yogendra Yadav, NCERT member on the panel for political science textbooks, said: "You cannot teach political science to students by sidestepping major events that had a significant influence on society and polity, no matter whether controversial or not."
Jesuit Fr Cedric Prakash shares the same view. Talking to AsiaNews, the human rights activist said: "The facts of history can never be hidden and neither should they be swept under the carpet. A young student in formation must be exposed to both the good and evil of the past and must be trained to discern the wrongs so as not to repeat them. The decision to insert in the academic curriculum the massacre of the Sikhs in 1984, or the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, or the Gujarat Carnage of 2002 is definitely an effort that has to be welcomed by all."
In 1984, the killing of Indira Gandhi (by two Sikhs who were her bodyguards) sparked a series of revolts against the Sikh community. Around 3,000 members of this community were killed and the party in power, Congress, was implicated in the massacre.
In 1992, Hindu fundamentalists destroyed the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, claiming the site as the birthplace of the Hindu god Rama. The consequent clashes between Hindus and Muslims claimed at least 2,000 lives.
In 2002, in Gujarat, a train of Hindu pilgrims was burnt. The death of 58 Hindus in the incident provoked a witch hunt of Muslims that led to the death of around 2,000 of them.
"Hopefully," said Fr Prakash, "the exposition of these facts will be objective and will enable students to form the right ideas about these shameful deeds of post-independence India."
Prof. Yadav said the themes would be tackled on the basis of indisputable government sources. The text would not supply all the details of the incidents and would offer the version of human rights organizations as well as an opposing one.
Dr John Dayal of the All India Catholic Union also approved the NCERT idea. He told AsiaNews: "A complete analysis and full understanding of history is essential to strengthen and forge the emerging democratic mindset." Dayal has long struggled against the so-called "saffronisation" of history, that is, the manipulation of facts and notions to suit Hindu nationalism. "Contemporary history should not be a sanitized and pro-Hindu version. It is important that all the facets of history emerge to ensure a fruitful understanding of history."
The editorial in today's Times of India is for the revision of textbooks: "A 60-year-old democracy should be confident enough to respect plurality of opinion."
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03/06/2016 11:43
