A Textbook Case

18^th March, 2016

Chennai, TN 

Today, there was an article which said that the Rajasthan Government has decided to change the educational curriculum in its schools, so that ‘no one like Kanhaiya Kumar is born’. I could not help let out a chuckle when I read this, for the reason is absurd and unfounded. I have always believed that textbooks require a serious relook, not because the students are learning the wrong (or right) content, like the minister feels, but because they are anachronic. Also, poor content coupled with flawed teaching methodologies, giving the teacher room to impose his/ her view have created a pool of ‘wrongly informed’ students. 

The subject minister wants to include biographies of freedom fighters in the textbooks (most of the names in the articles were Hindu), which is good, as long as the biographies are archival research materials and not sensational stories or folklore. The notes and speeches of the historical figures need to be used in text books. The students must be encouraged to form their own conclusions and impressions after reading the textbooks, rather than being imposed with a certain ideology.

I heard Kanhaiya Kumar’s speech on YouTube a few days after his release and I can without a doubt say that he is a skilled orator who can create sensation and although he churned out hollow points that evening, the super charged atmosphere around him, following his release from prison, gave him an exaggerated importance. Well, nothing wrong in that. However, I noted a curious point that he made. He said that it was difficult for poor to even contemplate to take courses in Science and Technology (or something to that effect). Now, this is what universities, ministers and other concerned must pay heed to.

An essay written by Ramachandra Guha titled ‘Pluralism in the Indian University’ delineates how Indian Universities must find other avenues to raise funds for their functioning, thus freeing themselves from the clutches of the Government. Universities must explore industry tie- ups, alumni, and other donations to raise funds. Affordability of courses must be given prime importance, so one can pursue the course of his/ her choice and not be compelled to undertake studies because they cannot afford to. The speech of Kanhaiya Kumar can be viewed typical of a leftist union leader- fearless & sensational, but underlying it was a despondency that comes with financial hardships.

Chapters in school textbooks can be tampered with by each successive government to suit their party’s ideology, but they must realise that it is this tampering that creates Kanhaiya Kumars, who are glorified by one ideology while maligned by another. What schools must rather do is create students who can respect other ideologies, while being firmly rooted to their own, and this cannot happen if we set biased curriculum, which will only create hatred between two differing ideologists.  

What is also noteworthy is the restricted ability of the governments to tamper with the History textbooks alone. I earnestly ask them to ‘improve’ the Math curriculum as well, and even Chemistry perhaps.