Mangalore, Oct 5: Members of Mangalore unit of Students Islamic Organization (SIO) of India staged a demonstration on Friday against saffronisation of school textbooks of sixth and ninth standard, in front of Deputy Commissioner's officer in the city.
Addressing the protesters, Girls Islamic Organisation President Umera said “India will lose its future if we follow communalism. There is a need to fight against communal forces and teach students on the effects of communalism. There is a need to inculcate the feelings of harmony and peace in children for the future of the country.”
Stating that textbooks depict religions critically, she said that there was a need to educate children on the need for peace and harmony for the better future of the country. “We are not targetting one particular community. If communalism is projected by any group, we will protest against it.” The state government should withdraw all the textbooks which has communal elements in it, she added.
Sanmarga weekly editor Abdul Khader Kukkila said that as per National Curriculum Framework, the content in textbooks should be devoid of communialism and should uphold social justice. Unfortunately, history textbooks have been distorted and include factually incorrect contents. All attempts have been made to sow the seeds of communal hatred in the minds of the students, he added.
The textbook of the 6th and 9th standard of the present academic year contains some factually incorrect contents. The contradictory facts in the textbooks will create false perception among students. He demanded that the State government should issue direction to withdraw the lessons in the textbooks that inject communal hatred in the young minds.
He said the textbooks should be prepared according to the recommendations made by the National Curriculum Framework.
The protesters said that though the Congress government had promised to withdraw all the textbooks which has communal content in it, the government has not taken any action in this regard even after three months. The government should appoint experts to textbook board and the curriculum should be discussed in the public before printing it in the textbooks, they said.
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