From srik_v@hotmail.com Wed Jul 24 10:46:24 2002

"Eklavya Hoshangabad" <eklavyah@sify.com>

07/24/02 04:16 AM

 

 

         Subject: SSTP - Update 13  (Social Science programme threatened)

 

 

CORRECTION:

Please correct Shri N. Ram's email-id that we had circulated earlier. ( nr@vsnl.com.) Do not use this id. The correct one is  nrram@thehindu.co.in. Sorry for inconvenience.

 

Eklavya Social Science programme threatened

 

24-7-02

Dear Friends,

We are sure you would all be aware of the pressure being mounted on Eklavya school programmes in the recent months. We would like to share with you some fresh developments, this time regarding the Social Science  Programme.

Ever since the Hoshangabad District Planning Council passed a resolution at the behest of the BJP MLA to recommend the closure of the science programme, the MLA has been campaigning against the Social Science programme. He has sited a number of reasons, some of which are as follows:

i.      The texts mention that meat eating was common among Rg Vedic Aryans

ii.     ... that they indulged in animal sacrifice in Vedic yagnas  especially of

cows

iii.    that the Aryans came from central asia

iv.     that Brahmins claimed that they were entitled to superior status

because they came from the mouth of the God (why are they raking up a dead issue

and instigating people?)

v.      that Ayurveda developed in the post Mauryan phase (when it actually

declined because of the Buddhist emphasis on ahimsa)

vi.     that Muslims came to India as traders (when we all know that they

came as invaders)

vii.    that conversions to Islam took place also because of preaching

(when in actual fact people were forcibly converted)

viii.   The civics chapters show people agitating for water and other civic

amenities and leading protest marches against the ward members (this would

instigate children into extremist activities) etc. etc.

Meanwhile an application was sent to the director, SCERT for routine orders for the continuation of the programme (in March 2002). She replied that in the light of the DPC recommendation, orders for continuation would depend upon the decision taken by the govt on the entire issue. This  interpretation of the decision of the DPC was unwarranted as the DPC neither discussed the social science programme nor did it pass a blanket resolution against all Eklavya programmes. Subsequently we were asked to  submit a note on the programme which we did on 22 June 2002. We also wrote to the CM in this regard, but have not received any reply so far. The orders for continuation of the programme had  to be issued before the

end of June but there has been no intimation to date.

On 3rd July the govt of MP ordered the closure of the Hoshangabad Science Teaching Programme in Hoshangabad district. It seems that not issuing  orders for the continuation of the Social Science programme is a part of the larger scheme of not allowing alternative curriculur packages to function in the state.

The timing of the decision is significant - there is a nationwide uproar over the NCERT's tampering with social science curriculum at the behest of the right wing forces and there is a debate over the possible alternatives to it. The MP govt by closing down the social science programme of Eklavya has in effect undermined the possibility of building an alternative to the NCERT's vision. This calls for both effective protest and debating the issues in all forums.

You could protest to the CM and also address a copy to the members of the state advisory board of education (SABE). Please do mark a copy to us.

 

Thanks and more later,

 

Yours in solidarity,

Subbu, Rashmi, Arvind, Yemuna, Ram, Sanjay, Gautam and Amman

For Eklavya and the Social Science Programme

 

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