VHP against Arabic teaching in Kerala

Objects to Travancore board appointing teachers in its schools

Strongly objecting to the Travancore Devaswom Board appointing Arabic teachers in its schools run in Kerala, the VHP on Wednesday demanded that the decision should be withdrawn and Sanskrit language, which is the “depository of the Bharatiya spiritual heritage” and its teaching should be made mandatory in the schools run by the TDB. The board is an autonomous body constituted under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act XV of 1950. Insisting that three members in the board are nominees of the Left government, the VHP claimed Arabic is not included in the schedule languages of the Indian Constitution and is studied more for reading, understanding and memorising the Holy Quran therefore, teaching of the language in the schools managed form the funds offered by the Hindu devotees in the temples is an inappropriate expense.

In a statement issued, VHP’s working president Alok Kumar said that the Travancore Devaswom Board was constituted under the Travancore Cochin Hindu Religious Institutions Act, 1950 and all the three members in the board are nominees of the state’s ruling party.

“This is yet another attack by the nominees of

Left front government of Kerala upon the Hindus. Their money, offered by them to deities shall go for the teaching of Arabic language,” said the VHP’s working president as he demanded that the decision should be taken back and also asked the people to resolutely fight against it. The board administers 1248 temples in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore and runs more than two dozen schools in the region.