SrI :
Dear AasthikAs :
For your Information and appropraiate follow up by US Citizens .
Thanks very much .
V.Sadagopan
----- Original Message -----
From: Mandayam Kumar Krishnaswamy
To: sgopan
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:08 AM
Subject: Corrections to Textbooks in California regarding Hinduism
Dear Shriman Sadagopan,
You may consider requesting members who are US citizens to send similar appeals
urgently.
Dasan
krishnaswamy m k
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mandayam Kumar Krishnaswamy <mkrishnaswamy@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Dec 15, 2005 6:00 AM
Subject: Corrections to Textbooks in California regarding Hinduism
To: "Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg" <Assemblymember.Goldberg@xxxxxxxxxx>,
"Secretary Alan Bersin, CA Secretary of Education" < kheinrich@xxxxxxxxxx>,
"Sue Stickel, Deputy Superintendent of Schools" <sstickel@xxxxxxxxxx>, "Karen
Steentofte, Chief Counsel, State Board of Education" < ksteento@xxxxxxxxxx>
Urgent Appeal to the Curriculum Commission:
I understand that attempts are being made to OVERTURN the Curriculum
Commission's decision of December 2, 2005 to accept the edits and corrections
of the Vedic Foundation and Hindu Education Foundation. The final decision is
now in the hands of the California State Board of Education members. If
overturned the State of California would allow the degrogatory and inaccurate
information found in all 8 textbooks on the topics of Hinduism and Aryan
invasion/migration to go unchecked until 2012.
While the textbooks describe the Bible, the Torah or the Koran as 'historical
accounts' and Jesus, Moses and Muhammad as 'historical figures,' they
irreverently describe Lord Rama and Sita as 'characters' of the 'fictional
story' Ramayana, Goddess Durga and Kali as 'extremely terrible and
bloodthirsty,' the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures as songs, poems, myths, and
legends. While the textbooks consistently use 'God' with the capital letter G
in the discussion of other religions, they use 'god or goddess' with the small
letter 'g' to describe the forms of God in Hinduism and perpetuate the
misconception that Hindus believe in 'many gods.' The Curriculum Commission's
decision to approve the corrections of the foundations strives to remove such
derogatory and prejudiced statements that are made in relation to Hinduism and
its practices, and aims to achieve a balanced and respectful presentation of
Hinduism similar to that which is given to other religions.
Ignoring modern scholarship, the textbooks continue to teach the Aryan invasion
or migration as an 'established fact' and not as a 'theory.' They fail to
inform the students about the more recent research that indicates that the
Aryans were the original people of India. The foundations' corrections as
approved by the Curriculum Commission present both sides of the issue and
remove references that teach the 'theory' as an 'established fact.'
It is a matter of great concern to me and fellow members of the Hindu community
that such last minute attempts are being made to denigrate Hinduism and I
appeal to the Commission to accept the edits and corrections of the Vedic
Foundation and Hindu Education Foundation.
Thanks.
Sincerely,
Krishnaswamy Mandayamkumar
TO
Secretary Alan Bersin, CA Secretary of Education
Karen Steentofte, Chief Counsel, State Board of Education
Ruth Green, President, State Board of Education
Sue Stickel, Deputy Superintendent of Schools
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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