The systematic attempt by the right wing forces to rework mythological stories as historical facts is also a step in that direction of saffronization. Recently there was a circular from Modi's ministry to the archaelogical survey of india to find out the exact dates of Mah@bharat war. There are two kinds of extremities in the academicia - one is populated by the extreme left and another by extreme right. The left views such mythological stories as fabricated lies, while the right views them as sacrosanct and historically significant. The right views the left to undermine India's culture and its ethnicity while the Left wants to portray history in its right content rather than deploy fiction to override facts. Both the opinion are borne out of prejudice and bias. The Indian education system has been caught between a rock and a hard place whereby Indian Students are being denied the right to learn the right history. A majority in India subscribe to the historicity of the two epics and believe them to be true which is (non)sense. I hope right thinking people would foil this overt attempts to saffronize the education system and save it from falsehood. The Students must be encouraged to study history in its perspective rather than rely on dogmas and bigotry oriented manuals.
Re: HISTORY SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT
by piri on Jul 28, 2014 01:49 PM
There is no such thing as a correct history that is completely comprehensive. If what someone thinks is a correct history is written for school textbooks, a contradictions will sooner or later arise if the innumerable local histories are examined and more evidences surface as time goes on.
In other words, the phrase that there are many histories to a region would sound apt if history is sought to be restricted to one or two books drafted for children.
The NCERT has had several members over the years wanting to write 'correct history' fitting into ten or hundred pages for children. But their efforts have come to nought every time because of evidences surfacing periodically that went against some of the correct history being taught in schools.
Re: HISTORY SHOULD BE SEEN IN THE RIGHT CONTEXT
by Jagdish Dubey on Jul 28, 2014 12:44 PM
How many pursue History for higher studies - in absolute numbers or % of population? So why not discuss those other subjects that interest the vast majority. Why even the mention of Sangh is anathema so some people?
If Hindus are highly "secular" and "advanced intellectuals", wish to follow western foot-steps, boy-girl friend, Valentine, live-in cultures and the parents are proud that their children are becoming "advanced".....then who is RSS to question them? Ha? How dare RSS to teach moral values such "advanced" intellectuals?
If other religion follows their own Madrasas, what is wrong if majority follow their culture related educations? Unless Hindus are highly "secular" and "forward intellectuals"?
Why not focus on how we can uplift our education at all levels so as to make it modern and world class. Right all that we have is the report that our schools finished at 72 & 73 rd places among 74 countries which were included in the ranking in reading, maths and science. Shangai schools were of course at the top. So let us take up maths and science first - just forget history geography for a while and focus on science maths, technology including IT and commerce- management.
