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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Yash Pal condemns removal of history portion from textbook by G Krishnakumar

Yash Pal condemns removal of history portion from textbook by G Krishnakumar

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published Published on Nov 30, 2011   modified Modified on Nov 30, 2011

Academic and chairman of the review committee on the National Curriculum Framework (2005) Yash Pal has pointed out that it was not a “nice thing” to remove parts of the history portion of the Social Science textbook for Class X in Kerala on the grounds that they were deliberate attempts to denigrate certain communities.

In an exclusive interview to The Hindu here on Wednesday, Prof. Yash Pal said it (the learning process) was a contract between a teacher and a student.

“I think a teacher should teach that particular poem which moves him greatly. If he teaches a poem that he hates, he won't teach very good poetry. That is the freedom given to the teachers. There are no perfect solutions (for such issues). Teachers should teach that particular poem that moves them,” he said.

Stating that there were all kinds of ‘Talibanisation' happening across the country, Prof. Yash Pal also condemned the Delhi University academic council's decision to scrap A.K. Ramanujan's essay ‘Three hundred Ramayanas: Five examples and three thoughts on translations,' after it was found “inappropriate to form a subject of history, given its religious theme”.

“The incident shows that academics are not academics always. And that is the sad thing. It is everywhere. Hopefully, it will change. Some of these dramas will happen. You could make very steadfast rules and then you will create a terrible army,” he said.

Explaining that he would be “delighted if Ramayana was not (considered) completely historical, Prof. Yash Pal said these things (Ramayana versions) were really creations of the common people.

“Our people have shown great creativity over the last thousands of years. And creativity of the common people is very important. We put them together and give the credit to some figures like Tulsidas and Valmiki. But that creativity has really come from the grandmother, the mother and the stories told by them,” he said.

Asked whether he supported the argument that there should be certain limits to freedom of expression and they should be respected, Prof. Yash Pal said he would not chop off anybody's neck. “I would allow people freedom. I will be upset a little bit. But I will always talk to him (the writer or the artist on the issue),” he said.

The Hindu, 1 December, 2011, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2676617.ece


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