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On January 24, 2006, the
Christian Science Monitor published India history spat
hits US regarding the representation of Hinduism in California
textbooks. HAF wrote to the editor to stress the importance
of a fair representation of Hinduism in textbooks.
January 26, 2006
Dear Editor,
Your January 24, 2006 article by Mr. Baldauf
“India history spat hits US” does not accurately
convey the reasons Hindu Americans are upset.
In post-911 America, it is imperative that
various religions be portrayed fairly, considering the repercussions
of prejudice on young minds. The textbooks treat other religions
sympathetically while Hinduism is portrayed in the most negative
manner. The social studies textbooks in question are for middle
school, when students are most susceptible to stereotyping.
The majority of American children will not
meet Hindus while in school and will miss out on opportunities
to learn from Hindus themselves. Therefore it is even more
important for Hinduism that textbooks are sensitive in their
portrayal as they will form lasting impressions on student
minds.
Otherwise, generations of Hindu American
youth will continue to face the common stereotype that their
5,000 year old culture and heritage is nothing but a history
of cows, caste and curry, and that they are sinners destined
for hell because they worship demonic gods.
Portraying the textbook controversy as a
battle of Hindu nationalists against academics does not do
justice to the hundreds of thousands of Hindu students in
this country facing daily prejudice and does not reveal that
the few Indians opposing the changes of the Hindu organizations
come from communist ideologies and have a history of opposing
Hindu initiatives.
Sincerely,
Mihir Meghani, M.D.
President, Hindu American Foundation
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