by Nirmala Carvalho

So says Father Paul Thelakat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church. For him, the book gives its own interpretation of many historical facts. But "in a democratic, secular country with its multiplicity of religious and other differences," this should not happen because "the future of the generation depends on education."

Thiruvananthapuram (AsiaNews) - The social sciences textbook used in Kerala by the 10th grade (secondary school) promotes atheism, communism and inter-religious hatred. This is what Fr Paul Thelakat, spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, told AsiaNews. The book is "India and the contemporary world - vol. II," used in the second year of secondary school. In the state, the Communist Party had ruled unchallenged for many years. Father Thelakat, editor of the weekly "Satyadeepam" (Light of Truth), points out that many chapters of the book provide a Marxist interpretation of history: "For example, the text explains the fall of the Soviet Union saying that it was due the ‘deviation from the basic socialist tenets.’ It means that communism failed not because of its basic tenets but because of the deviation from them. It is normal that a fact can be interpreted in different ways, but should such an interpretation be made a text book in a democratic, secular country with its multiplicity of religious and other differences?" For the priest, even the wars in Vietnam, Korea and Cambodia are told through "Marxist blinders."

The priest continues: "The book defines the Renaissance as the ‘rebirth of the Greco-Roman cultures which was forbidden by the feudal lords and the Catholic church.’ But the church was a great promoter of Greek and Roman cultures. The Greek philosophy was the language in which Christian thought was expressed. Plato, Aristotle and Plotinus were resurrected by the church. The  Roman law became the law of the church thorough centuries. Michaelangelo painted five sibyls in the ceilings of the Sistine chapel among the Christian and biblical figures. How is it that the church is against Greek culture?”

It is very likely that the book adopted in Kerala was influenced by the past Communist rule in the state, which had been in power for the last ten years. In the last elections held 29 March, the UDF (United Democratic Front, the Congress’ party) defeated the Communist Party by a handful of votes. Commenting on these results, Father Thelakat said: "The Church does not side with any political party. We are open to the new government and we will cooperate to implement better programs, but we will oppose any policy contrary to the people, the poor, or in favour of corruption. "The future of the generation depends on education, which is the ladder to climb in the society," says the priest. "The church wants freedom for good education  and  wishes quality education to be served to develop the best in human  beings. The church wants education to develop the poor and marginalized."

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