Textbook Blunders

Some revealing Points from the saffron Text Books

High School Itihaas Bhaag is a Text book used in BJP controlled States . About 190 pages of it deals with the history of modern India, of which only 20 pages are devoted to the nationalist movement. 3 pages are devoted to Dr. Hedgewar.Important nationalist leaders are mentioned only in passing. Quit India movement has been given half a page. Jinnah is a villain. Although there are 60 pages on the entry of the British and establishment of British rule, there is nothing that would promote an understanding of colonialism (HSIB 2) Peoples movements find no place.

The books are full of factual errors, inconsistencies, and chronological lapses.

The Muslims are solely blamed for the partition of India. The RSS as an organisation is presented as central to the Freedom Movement. Dr. Keshavrao B. Hegdewar is one of the tallest leaders of the freedom struggle. Statements of a large number of national leaders have been quoted in praise of the RSS.

In the section dealing with the movement against the partition of Bengal the name of Hegdewar has been added as leader of the movement, the other names mentioned being those of Tilak, Aurobindo Ghose, Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal.

In the context of the civil disobedience movement there is no men tion of the Lahore Congress or Puma Swaraj.

Textbook Blunders
Excerpts

• How many devotees of Ram laid down their lives to liberate Ram temple from 1528 to 1914?

° Three-lakh-fifty thousand. (There is no mention of how the schools arrived at this figure).

• How many times the foreigners invaded Shri Ramjanmabhumi?

° Seventy-seven times

• What was the number of struggle for the liberation of Ram Janmabhumi, which was launched on October 30, 1990?

° 78th struggle

• Which Muslim plunderer invaded the temples in Ayodhya in 1033?

° Mahmud Ghaznavi's nephew Salar Masud.

• Which Mughal invader destroyed the Ram temple in 1528?

° Babur

• Qutb Minar was constructed by Samundragupta, and its original name was Vishnu Sthambha (page 73, Guarav Gadha).

• The Babri Mosque was constructed after destroying a temple, which in turn stood on the exact spot where Rama was born. (High School Itihaas Bhaag 2, page 146)

• The Quran was the basis for the state policy of Aurangzeb, and whatever policy was adopted for running the Government was basically for pro- moting Islam (HSIB 2, page. 119)

Astrology Course at MSU gaining popularity

Vadodara: The Maharaja Sayajirao University has decided to go ahead with the Astrology course recommended by the University Grants Commission. The MSU has reported satisfactory response to the Astrology courses which also includes foreign students interested in enrolling for the Astrology course.

RBU said no to Astrology and returned 15 lakhs

The Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) has rejected the University Grant Commission's (UGC) proposal to set up a ``jyotirvigyan'' department and returned a grant of Rs. 15 lakhs. The RBU stated that the UGC on its own accorded approval for the establishment of such a department in the university a few months ago and sent a cheque for Rs. 15 lakhs for the project. The commission also granted the appointment of a professor, two readers and lecturers each and establishment of a computerised horoscope bank, he said.

'Critics' attitude towards astrology unscientific'

Patna: September 20, 2001: A group of astrologers under the auspices of the Vedic Occult Research Centre have defended astrology as a science at a press conference here . Referring to the controversy over the Union government's move to introduce astrology courses in universities, they said it has become a fashion for scientists to decry astrology. Quoting Webster's definition of "science", the astrologers stressed that astrology comes under the category of science, which has been studied all over the world on the basis of observation, study and examination for thousands of years.

Congress C M supports astrology and Vedic studies

In the midst of severe resentments over introducing astrological studies in Universities, NDA Government receives strong support for starting the courses from Digvijay Singh. In an interview with star news he expressed his strong conviction for introducing Vedic studies and astrology in the curriculum. Observers feel that the response from the Congress Chief Minister is quite unexpected and inspiring to BJP allies. He said there is no harm in giving UGC grants for such courses.

Sangha Parivar took control 17 national research institutions    
-Kanti Biswas.           
West Bengal Education Minister Kanti Biswas warned that the sangha parivar outfits have taken control of over 17 research institutions of national importance. He was talking in SAHAMAT convention against communalization of education. He cited the examples of Indian Council of Social Science Research, Indian Council of Philosophical Research, UGC, NCERT, and Indian Institute of Advanced Studies and a number of other institutions of strategic importance.