If you thought that the saffronisation of higher educational institutions, and repeated state interference in autonomous institutes was the only threat to the quality of our education, brace yourself because Delhi government is also set to join the bandwagon. The Aam Aadmi Party led government is bringing in some odd revisions in school syllabus.
Literary marvels like Gulliver’s Travels and The Diary of Anne Frank , which have inspired generations, will not be introduced to students of classes VI – X anymore. Instead children’s books by Indian writers will replace them. The reason cited? Children cannot relate to “topical references to 18th century England”, plus it isn’t really Indian. As for Anne Frank’s diary, they say that it contains “too explicit references to physical changes in the adolescent body.”
That isn’t all, Sania Mirza will be given a place in text books to portray success in sports, which would be fine unless it is being done to replace Maria Sharapova. Maria Sharapova is a better example of sporting excellence strictly so long as achievements go. But she isn’t Indian, so.
If you thought all that was outrageous, get ready for the ultimate irony. The government headed by AAP, which actually came to power riding the wave of a mass movement, thinks that ‘ jansangharsh ka andolan ‘ (evolution of mass movements should be deleted. Why? Well because mass movements will teach children that “agitation, anarchy and going against the government are the only means of securing social justice.” Ironic?
Other topics to get the boot will be socialism in Europe and Russian revolution, because the government thinks that students are incapable of understanding such topics. And Nationalism In Indo-China , because it is ‘too difficult for teachers to teach it.’
A Long Walk to Freedom because who needs to know about racism and apartheid, right? Their reasoning is that an inordinate amount of time is spent in dealing with references of racism.
While introducing students to content generated in India is fine, deleting literary brilliance for that is uncalled for, and the same will alienate most from exploring foreign cultures. It will also render an army of students unaware of real issues that continue to plague India, like racism.
