CALIFORNIA: The continued controversy over the allegedly inaccurate portrayal of Hinduism and Indian culture in California's elementary school textbooks was raised yet again on September 27 in Sacramento as the California Department of Education's Instructional Quality Commission reviewed drafts of new editions. A statement issued by the Hindu Education Foundation claimed that the proposed revised texts continued to “demonise Hindus and Indians by promoting Orientalist narratives and including pictures of Hindu Deities, slums and poverty, and trash to represent ancient Indian civilization and Hinduism.”
Shantharam Nekkar of the Hindu Education Foundation released a statement saying, “While the disparaging images were rejected and a few positive changes were made, many of the textbook narratives still contain extensive inaccuracies and stereotypes. Moreover, several items that are mandated in the California History-Social Science textbook framework (state guidelines) for India and Hinduism are also being ignored by some publishers.” He added, “We will continue to seek the accurate inclusion of our history, including Yoga, Hindu philosophy, Sanskrit, and Tamil Sangam literature, Jainism, and the contributions by Hindu Dalit saints and sages.”
A ninth grader who testified at the IQC hearing, said, “The textbooks show all cultures in a positive way, but sadly only Hinduism and India are singled out and shown with pictures of trash, slums, and poverty.” As the state rejected drafts from one publisher whose texts showed India as primitive, poor, and dirty, organisations cheered at the progress. A petition signed by over 8,000 people demanding the withdrawal of biased and inaccurate content was also submitted to the Department of Education. Krishna Maheshwari of Hindupedia said, “Some improvements have been made, but significant additional changes are required to present India and Hinduism in an accurate and equitable manner.”
