I ask therefore I’m Hindu: Hinduism stands for freedom of thought, don’t stifle that

[prasad1]

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The word ‘Hindu’ is in the news, both as a political and cultural identity. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat believes all those who live in Hindustan are Hindus. For book policeman Dinanath Batra Hindu is a crusading word, evoking a campaign against Macaulayite secularists who have monopolized Indian thought and education. ‘Hindu’ is posited as the opposite of the rootless and the westernized, India’s Hindu past an ’Indian’ riposte to western imperialism.
Fear of westernization has always gripped Indians both of Left and Right persuasions. The Left regarded English as the language of foreign elitists and banished it from Bengal’s primary school education for three decades. The cultural Right believes – with some justification – that the modern post-Independence elite created an Indian knowledge system that suppressed and ignored Hindu traditions. Sangh activists like Batra believe it is their dharma to restore Hindu sanskriti to the school curriculum.
Even as Batra campaigns for rewriting textbooks, an ASER report shockingly revealed that 9% children in class V cannot identify numbers, 44% cannot read paragraphs and 29% are unable to divide and subtract. Despite spending years in school, millions are growing up ‘functionally illiterate’. Even as the Chinese pour resources into bringing their education to global standards, the Right wants to pull Indian students back into an illusory ‘Vedic’ Age.
What’s ‘Indian’ and what’s ‘western’ in our thousands of years of globalisation? To quote Amartya Sen: Does the use of penicillin amount to westernisation? Is paneer deeply anti-national because cottage cheese was first brought to India by European settlers in east India? Is chilli non-Indian because it was brought to India by the Portuguese? Is tea non-Indian because it was brought to India by the British?
Indianising education should mean to create the questioning spirit of Gargi, of Arjun, of Shastri, of Ram Mohan Roy, who questioned fearlessly. Hinduism has always stood for intellectual freedom, freedom that has led to super-achievers both at home and abroad. It is in fact decidedly un-Hindu to ban, to exclude and to suppress any form of knowledge, because the Hindu tradition has always honoured those who embraced intellectual striving and forged new ways of reform.
I ask therefore I?m Hindu: Hinduism stands for freedom of thought, don?t stifle that spirit | Times of India Opinion

 

[tks]

Who cares - best is to ignore radical views and those who use those views for their rebuttal (as in the piece of the OP). Both sides are just the barking dogs. It will still be 'it is the Economy , Stupid' (this was a slogan used by Clinton campaign in 1992)

 

[krish44]

Modi would be sensible if he concentrates on the economic agenda and puts on the back burner such RSS inspired pro hindu agenda

Already his tall talk without performance on the ground is leading to disillushionment

If he does not deliver fast enough, he will become unpopular like our other primeminsters inspite of huge majority he enjoys

 

[tks]

I assume PM Modi has performance metrics in his closed room sessions for his direct reports.
I think he can ignore the well-off public and those bent on ideological fights. I dont think he needs to earn points from them.

The real question how much power can he actually use - can he fire (not Indian use of the word fire but western use which mean throw them out of their job) the non performing heads of organization. Only with real consequences can anything real happen

 

[prasad1]

Should that performance standard be applied to his own ministries?
http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/genera...ment-s-100-day-target-toilets.html#post257602

 

[sarang]

Modi has a vision and mission, there is a bjp manifesto, he has articulated well in his election speeches 'sabka sath, sabka vikas'. Even Kerry has repeated modi's slogan. As he has done always, he will not waste time throwing stones at barking dogs and walk his path. The dogs will stop barking after a while.

I assume PM Modi has performance metrics in his closed room sessions for his direct reports.
I think he can ignore the well-off public and those bent on ideological fights. I dont think he needs to earn points from them.

The real question how much power can he actually use - can he fire (not Indian use of the word fire but western use which mean throw them out of their job) the non performing heads of organization. Only with real consequences can anything real happen

 

[கால பைரவன்]

Who cares - best is to ignore radical views and those who use those views for their rebuttal (as in the piece of the OP). Both sides are just the barking dogs.

This is just a "red herring" tactic by media to mask real issues in education sector facing the nation. There is much animosity expressed towards the so called "Hindu culture" and "hinduisation" of education. Media never explains what this actually entails. Instead of reading about aurangazebs and Babars and akbars, we may be reading about Hindu kings. Instead of reading the euro centric version of colonial history we may be reading a different version.

But the real problem afflicting our education sector is elsewhere. First the CCE system introduced by the previous govt. Completely dumbs down the students. Removes any competitive advantage our students may have in competing globally. Our hope and strength is in building a knowledge economy and CCE will put a stop to this. Second, the draconian RTE law - controls every aspect of running a school I.e. if the mgmt is Hindu. These laws are the ones which are really stifling freedom and are dangerous. These were formulated by leftists and sickulars - so gets a free pass by the media.

 

[prasad1]

Even as Batra campaigns for rewriting textbooks, an ASER report shockingly revealed that 9% children in class V cannot identify numbers, 44% cannot read paragraphs and 29% are unable to divide and subtract. Despite spending years in school, millions are growing up ‘functionally illiterate’. Even as the Chinese pour resources into bringing their education to global standards, the Right wants to pull Indian students back into an illusory ‘Vedic’ Age.

Priority should matter. Is it more important to Hinduise the text books or educate the children? In the modern world where we have to operate, it is preeminent that our children are ready to face the competition of the world. Our English advantage is being eroded by the Chinese, eastern Europeans, and others. If we go back to so called "vedic" age we may not be able to compete in the modern age.

 

[கால பைரவன்]

The point is the media latches on to words like "vedic age" without really talking about the causes that resulted in the weakening of education system. The ASER report is shocking but what contributed to it?

Why not much commentary about the CCE or RTE which are laws affecting almost every student's education in this country? When the media is obsessed with mere communal symbolism but makes nary a peep against communal laws, people have the right to question its motives.

 

[prasad1]

The point is the media latches on to words like "vedic age" without really talking about the causes that resulted in the weakening of education system. The ASER report is shocking but what contributed to it?

Why not much commentary about the CCE or RTE which are laws affecting almost every student's education in this country? When the media is obsessed with mere communal symbolism but makes nary a peep against communal laws, people have the right to question its motives.

Yes we have every right to question the motive of the media. But media does not have the responsibility of solving the problem. They are pointing out the symptoms. It is like when we go the doctor we say where it hurts, we expect the doctor to diagnose the illness. You can not ask the media to solve the problem, we have elected officials who have to diagnose the problem and fix it too. If the doctor starts to operate on a hunch we are all in trouble. That seems to the solution being suggested by Hinduisation, Hindisation, or other gimmicks.

 

[கால பைரவன்]

Media is not expected to solve the problem. But IMO the media is providing wrong diagnosis, and I am asking the discerning readers not to just lap it up.

The media still exercises tremendous influence in shaping the opinion of people and therefore influences law makers too. Take a cursory look at the NJAC issue, for example. It is within our right to call the media out.

 

[tks]

This is just a "red herring" tactic by media to mask real issues in education sector facing the nation. There is much animosity expressed towards the so called "Hindu culture" and "hinduisation" of education. Media never explains what this actually entails. Instead of reading about aurangazebs and Babars and akbars, we may be reading about Hindu kings. Instead of reading the euro centric version of colonial history we may be reading a different version.

But the real problem afflicting our education sector is elsewhere. First the CCE system introduced by the previous govt. Completely dumbs down the students. Removes any competitive advantage our students may have in competing globally. Our hope and strength is in building a knowledge economy and CCE will put a stop to this. Second, the draconian RTE law - controls every aspect of running a school I.e. if the mgmt is Hindu. These laws are the ones which are really stifling freedom and are dangerous. These were formulated by leftists and sickulars - so gets a free pass by the media.

Media is not an independent entity anymore - they are mouthpieces of their masters who own them. They are tools used by the powerful to manipulate the public. They are part of the corruption empire.

If there is an in-depth analysis that is unbiased and not based on keywords only then we can listen. I am yet to see such an analysis.

It is true that the education system is watered down but the cause has nothing to do with what is attributed.

 

[renuka]

What’s ‘Indian’ and what’s ‘western’ in our thousands of years of globalisation? To quote Amartya Sen: Does the use of penicillin amount to westernisation? Is paneer deeply anti-national because cottage cheese was first brought to India by European settlers in east India? Is chilli non-Indian because it was brought to India by the Portuguese? Is tea non-Indian because it was brought to India by the British?

The writer forgot to add that the Salwar Kameez that is so identified with being Indian and conservative is actually NOT Indian to start with.

But one "westernization" I always thank goodness for is the British Law and Justice system.

 

[krish44]

when I see what is happening in the education sector , I feel I am blessed that I studied more than 60 years back in primary school in tamil medium and a bit later in

iinstitutions of higher learning in english medium.the history textbooks of those days talked about ancient hindu civilisation,followed by moghul and british rule and

terminated with Indias independance.we learnt something of all religions hindu ,muslim and christianity. I do not know what has changed . By rewriting books one cannot

change the history ofthe country.one has to accept ones past and move on. no sense in analysing deeply what is indian and what is western.