Christians from across Ahmedabad and other districts have submitted a memorandum to the district collector over the class IX Hindi textbook published by Gujarat State School Textbook Board (GSSTB) that had printed adjective 'haivaan' or demon for Jesus Christ.

Christians from Syrian Church, Pentecost, Brethren Mission, Protestant, Roman Catholic and other denominations have expressed shock over the textbook referring Jesus Christ as a demon. Christians took out a rally and submitted a memorandum to district collector Mahendra Patel here today.

Chapter 16 in the textbook titled 'Bharatiya sanskriti mein guru-shishya sambandh' (teacher-student relationship in Indian culture) says, "Is sambandh me hevaan Isa ka ek kathan sada smaraniya hai (In this context, one statement of demon Jesus is always memorable). Jesus Christ is quoted as saying, "My followers are much greater than me and I am not worthy enough to even untie their shoes."

Spokesperson and presbyter-in-charge, Reverend Dennis E Amin said, "Christians are a peace-loving community. It seems there is a deliberate attempt to instigate the community by using the word 'demon' for Jesus Christ. We are followers of Jesus Christ and it hurts when such a mistake is committed."

Amin added, "The religious leaders had pointed out to the chairman of GSSTB and chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) and sought removal of the word 'hevaan' from the textbooks around a month back. Still the children in class IX are reading this. We want chief minister Vijay Rupani to take prompt action in this matter."

The post Christians Petition BJP Govt over ‘Demon’ Description of Christ: Gujarat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

KHOJ, education for a plural India programme had conducted a joint study and workshop on the issue in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: For the students of Gujarati-medium government schools in state, error-free textbooks remain a distant dream. Since 1999, and then again in 2014, when the Dinanath Batra text books were introduced. Now the latest gaffe, is the Std IX Hindi textbook addresses Jesus Christ as demon. The blunder, which appears in a chapter on the ‘Teacher-student relationship in Indian culture context,' has put the state government in a quandary  as the new academic session is just round the corner.

The textbook prepared by the Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) is published by Gujarat State School Textbook Board (GSSTB). The matter came to light after advocate Subramaniam Iyer posted a photograph of the contentious chapter on a social media site on June 3, the issue has created an uproar among the Christian community, which has demanded the withdrawal of the textbook.

An Ahmedabad based daily brought the error to the notice of state education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, he said the error will be rectified. The contentious line reads: ‘Iss sambandh mein haivaan Isa ka ek kathan sada smaraneeya hai' (In this context, a statement of demon Christ is memorable).

Commenting on the error, Father Cedric Prakash, a human rights activist, said, “The fact that Jesus has been denigrated in a school textbook speaks volumes about those who have been given the responsibility of shaping the minds, character and future of children. It is also reflective of the mindset of those who are governing us today. Those in power and their cronies seem bent on destroying what is sacrosanct in the Constitution of India: the non-negotiable fact that justice, liberty, equality and fraternity belong to each and every citizen of India. That India is a secular, socialist and sovereign country.” Father Prakash added the current dispensation has no qualms in denigrating and, even, exterminating minorities, Dalits, and tribals.

From Subramaniam Iyer FB Page

Dubbing the error a vicious agenda to push fascist ideologies, Father Prakash demanded “the immediate withdrawal of the textbook and that those responsible for it be prosecuted and the government apologises to the Christian community.” “I will get it checked,” said Sunaina Tomar, principal secretary, primary and secondary education, Gujarat government.

The post Again, Gujarat State Board Class IX Hindi textbook calls Jesus demon appeared first on SabrangIndia.