If you thought the previous Siddaramaiah government’s move to accord minority status to Karnataka’s Lingayats was a mere political bid to win a state election, you are thoroughly mistaken. This is clearly part of a well-planned strategy by the Church to ‘divide and digest’ Hinduism, say experts. Immediately after the announcement, reports say, several Lingayat churches have come up in the hinterlands of the state.
Of late, Christianity is surreptitiously being pushed in through school textbooks of the state. Although Islam is also included in the scheme of things (so as to look there is nothing amiss), prominence is given to Christianity.
For instance, the new Revised Social Science textbook for the Ninth Standard opens with a Chapter on Christianity and Islam. The chapter deals with Origin of Christianity and Islam, Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad; Contributions of Christianity and Islam and Different Sects of Islam and Christianity. It has detailed descriptions of how the ‘Religion of Love’ and ‘Religion of Peace’ had spread all over the world. However, there is no word on atrocities committed by these two religions on humanity and Hindus. Temple destructions, forceful conversions and Inquisition find no mention in the textbook.
There is nothing wrong with children learning about Christianity and Islam and their prophets. But the question is how it is being taught. For instance, read this passage: “In the beginning Arabs worshipped many objects of nature. They worshiped stones, trees and streams as Gods. In Mecca, the stone of Kaaba and other 360 idols were worshiped by them.”
“So, what is the message you are giving to a ninth standard Hindu student who believes in idol worship? There is a deep-seated conspiracy to de-Hinduise young children and to prepare them as potential converts,” says RK Jayakanth. What is even more disconcerting for lakhs of Hindu parents is the ‘activity’ and ‘project work’ recommended in the textbook.
- Visit the Churches and Mosques of your place and write a note on the religious rituals.
- Understand the method of Christmas celebration among the Christians.
- Understand how Ramzan is celebrated by Muslims.
Project work
- Write an essay on the expansion of Islam and Christianity with the help of your teacher.
The Chapter has enlisted some exercises for the students. They are:
Discuss with your friends and write answers to the following questions.
- Write a note on the life of Jesus Christ.
- List out the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- How did Christianity expand?
- Write a note on the life of Mohammad Paigambar.
- What is Hijra?
- What are the teachings of Islam?
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