Toronto schools to mark Hindu heritage in Nov
TORONTO: Canada’s largest school board has unanimously adopted a motion recognising November as Hindu heritage month in the country’s most diverse metropolitan area.
The motion was moved before the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) by 36-year-old trustee Parthi Kandavel. The board covers 583 schools and is the thirdlargest in North America.
Kandavel, whose father is of Sri Lankan origin and mother is from India, said he championed the motion because of a “desire expressed by the community.” While November is already observed as Hindu heritage Month in the province of Ontario, that was “fairly symbolic”, he said, while a similar observance for schools would have “substance.”
“There is value and significance”, he said as this deci- sion will be reflected in the curriculum, strategies and events at the schools as students will have the opportunity to “celebrate, learn and educate” themselves about the faith.
While Hinduism is among the world’s oldest belief systems, the “unfortunate reality” is that many educationists were unaware of it, he said, and there were reports of “students being bullied for being Hindus.” The TDSB governs a student population of nearly 240,000.
The motion was co-sponsored by another trustee Avtar Minhas, who was gratified that it came as TDSB celebrated April as Sikh heritage month. “We want every child to grow in this city of Toronto the way their culture is, there traditions are,” he said, after the motion was passed in the presence of dozens of members from the Hindu community in the gallery observing the proceedings and cheering the outcome.