US state for ‘right’ Hindu textbooks

Washington, Nov. 9: A group of influential American lawmakers have urged California's education board to adopt textbooks in schools that represent Hindus and Indian Americans with dignity.

The move comes ahead of the meeting of the allpowerful California State Board of Education this week where it would be making a final decision on whether to adopt, reject, or adopt with changes textbook drafts submitted by various publishers. “At a time of great division in our country and around the world, the importance of ensuring that the next generation is brought up respecting religious and cultural diversity, equality and pluralism is critical,” Congresswoman Gabbard said in a recent letter to the Board.

At its meeting this week, the Board is expected to take a decision on California Department of Education’s Instructional Quality Commission which had earlier rejected the problematic textbook drafts from publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for adversely reflecting upon Hinduism

At a time of great division in our country, the importance of ensuring that the next generation is brought up respecting religious and cultural diversity, equality and pluralism is critical.

— GABBARD Congresswoman

and failing to include adequate materials about the LGBT community, amongst other reasons.

Instructional Quality Commission is a State commission tasked with reviewing curriculum materials. Ahead of the meet, a broad coalition of more than 75 interfaith and community groups, 17 state and federal elected officials and 38 leading academics urged the State Board of Education to reject texts portraying Hinduism, Jainism and Indian history inaccurately and in a stereotyped manner. These texts will determine what students learn in their classroom for the next decade, Ms Gabbard said.