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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00038 Jun 2004

 
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Please visit the website http://www.hindu-international.org

Parents are requested to participate in the ongoing endeavour to 
promote a correct representation of Hindu dharma in the curriculum in 
use in US schools.

Our World's Story, by Harcourt Brace & Company is a textbook used in 
some schools in USA, for example, Fairfax County Public School, VA - 
5th grade Social Studies Curriculum. 

There are many distortions in this textbook which covers the story of 
India in 7 pages. 

A sampler follows; presented as an issue and a response:

Issue (Reference: Our World's Story Page 176) 

[quote]Hinduism 

The ideas of the Aryans can be seen in present-day Indian culture and 
beliefs. For example, the Aryans brought their language, Sanskrit, to 
India. Many Indian languages of today are based on Sanskrit. 

The Aryans believed that Sansrit was a holy language, the language 
spoken by the gods. The Aryans' holiest books, the Vedas (VAY.duhz), 
are written in Sanskrit. These four books of sacred writings describe 
the Aryan religion. 

A main belief of the Aryan religion was that people live many lives 
until they reach spiritual prefection. This belief that the soul 
lives on after death and returns to life in a new body is called 
reincarnation. The Aryan thought that those who obeyed the teachings 
of Vedas would be reborn into higher social positions. Those who did 
not obey them would return as lower life-forms. 

The Aryan religion developed into the religion of Hinduism. Hinduism 
is one of the oldest religions still practiced today. [unquote]

Response (Based on Reference: Explaining Hindu dharma - A Guide for 
Teachers Pages 8 and 9) 

The Word 'Hindu' 

History is mostly guessing, the rest is prejudice. (WILL DURANT) 

The word 'Hindu' has its origin in Sanskrit literature. In the Rig 
Veda, India was referred to as the country of 'Sapta Sindhu', i.e. 
the country of seven great rivers. The word 'Sindhu' referes to 
rivers and sea and not merely to the specific river called the Sindhu 
(Indus), now in Pakistan. In Vedic Sanskrit, according to ancient 
dictionaries, 'sa' was pronounces as 'ha'. Thus Sapta Sindhu' was 
pronounced as 'Hapta Hindu'; similarly 'Saraswati' was pronounces 
as 'Haravyati' or 'Harahwati'. This is how the work 'Hindu' came into 
being. The ancient Persians also referred to India as 'Hapta Hind', 
as recorded in their ancient classic 'Bem Riyadh'. That is why some 
scholars came to believe that the word 'Hindu' has its origin in 
Persia. The Greeks who invaded India under Alexander the Great, 
dropped the 'H' completely and used the name Indoos or Indus which 
later led to the formation of the word 'India'. 

Some parents of children studying in US schools are concerned at the 
wrong notions being taught to young, impressionable minds.

Parents participation is the key for success in bringing any change 
in the text books used in various grades in the schools all across 
USA. 

Talk and check your child's text book for material covering India and 
Hindu Dharma. 

If the textbook contains factual inaccuracies, distortions, 
disjointed and out of context generalizations, individual opinions, 
then  approach the school teacher and the principal. 
Be properly prepared with the material to refute the factual 
inaccuracies. 
During the meeting with the school principal, ask for a meeting with 
the School Board's curriculum committee. 

Thanks and regards.

Kalyanaraman




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