----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 10:49
PM
Subject: 'INDIA ABROAD' on new
textbooks
In spite of Madhav's cooling breeze from a
himavad-iriNeza-pradeza, I am afraid I have to add, even after some weeks'
reflection, some hot breeze from a slightly warmer haridvaara in kaamasetu,
matsyacuuSasetu.
For, an Indian scientist friend of mine has drawn my
attention to a troubling report in INDIA ABROAD, January 21, 2000, hidden away
on the OPINION
page.
http://www.indiaabroadonline.com/PublicAccess/ia012100/Opinion/ConcernExpressed.html
Since
this concerns *many* of the subjects we work on, it might be interesting to
list members, -- especially since it comes in the wake of the recent news
stories that Dominik has drawn attention to (Council of Social Science and
Historical Research, University Grants Commission, Indira Gandhi
Center).
I merely quote a few 'gems' and leave out all acronyms. The
story begins:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concern expressed about plans to alter history books (By PRAFUL
BIDWAI)
If Murli Manohar Joshi, the Union Human Resources Development
Minister, has his way, Indian children will grow up believing that "Bharatiya
culture," ... is the sole influence that has always shaped India. This
basically "Hindu" culture ... has remained unchanged since time immemorial.
All other influences and traditions are "impure," alien, not part of India's
"heritage."
.....
* There was no contradiction between Hinduism and
Buddhism ....
((cf. , incidentally: (Reuters) - A
key figure in India's ... government provoked outrage among Buddhist scholars
Friday by asserting that Buddhism merely represented India's ancient Aryan
traditions with a "new emphasis." "Buddha did not announce any new religion.
He was only restating with a new emphasis the ancient ideals of the Indo-Aryan
civilizations," Home Minister L.K. Advani said in a speech at Sarnath in
northern India. ----
See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2556965151-bd6
))
* Indians are "a race." Furthermore, they have
"a mission" and "destiny" as a race.
(ever heard that
before???)
* It is "a fundamental postulate of Hindu thought that
every way of life has its own contribution to make..." But "the ultimate
reality" is defined by Krishna alone.
* The "spirit of Bharat" is
dharma, "the ultimate source of all values." The best description of dharma is
found in the "Manusmriti."
* In ancient times, "Bharat excelled in
every branch of Science... Our sages realized reality lying in every sphere of
life." All of them were Hindu.
These ideas form the core of the
"Discussion Papers" now being prepared by the principal institutions that draw
up school curriculum ....
All future textbook writers must conform to
these standards.
....
(The writer is a political
commentator)
===========================================================================
Michael
Witzel
Department of Sanskrit & Indian Studies, Harvard University
2
Divinity Avenue, Cambridge MA 02138
ph. 617-496 2990 (also
messages)
home page: www.fas.harvard.edu/~witzel/mwpage.htm
Elect.
Journ. of Vedic Studies: www1.shore.net/~india/ejvs