Bengaluru, Dec 18 (IANS): Karnataka directed the Commissioner of Public Instruction to take steps to remove of contents from the class 6 social science textbooks that are demeaning to Brahmin community, after the head of the Mantralaya Shri Raghavendra Swamy matha seer Sri Subudhendra Teertha Swamiji complained about it.
The Brahmin Development Board, chairman, Sachidananda Murthy too submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister, B. S. Yediyurappa in this regard.
Yediyurappa directed the Principal Secretary to take immediate steps to remove such controversial contents from the textbook.
"Why do we need such controversial topics to be taught at such a young age?" he questioned.
While taking to Facebook, Primary and Secondary education minister, S. Suresh Kumar stated that he received a telephonic call from the seer of Mantralaya matha and informed him about the feelings of the Brahmin community.
He also clarified that revision of textbook or addition of any fresh chapter has not taken place after the current government came to power but this had crept into text books in our predecessor's tenure.
"I assured Athe Mantralaya seer that this blunder that had taken place in the past and it has come to light now which will be corrected soon," he stated.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Brahmin Welfare Board chairman, Sachidananda Murthy told IANS that he led the delegation requesting CM Yediyurappa to take steps to remove such controversial texts written only to humiliate the community.
It may be worth noting here that according to the textbook, there was a food scarcity because Brahmins performed 'homa' and 'havana' (fire rituals) by offering large quantities of foodgrains, milk, ghee and animals.
Quoting the text book excerpts further, Kumar stated that Kshatriyas who had to counsel Brahmins all the time, were fed up and were responsible for new religions to usher in the society.
"Kshtraiyas are the ones who encouraged the new religions like Jainism and Buddhism to flourish in the country," the minister observes in his note.
Further adds that the same text book does not speak any ill about Islam and Christianity, which is lesson number 6 of the same text book and same class.
Further highlighting similar such portions, the minister stated that such content was unnecessary and was above the standard of the students of the age group to whom it is being taught.
Such provocative content will not only lead to confusion in the society, but also hurt the feelings of the people of certain sections of community or society, therefore, such content must be dropped from text books, Kumar said.