BJP mouthpiece quotes Modi to say Batra books, criticized for spreading fundamentalism, are "exemplary"
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| "Manogat" quotes Modi to praise Batra |
By A Representative
The BJP’s Gujarati mouthpiece, “Manogat”, has quoted Prime
Minister Narendra Modi as justifying Dinanath Batra’s controversial nine books,
which have been officially introduced as “extra readings” in the state’s schools
by the Gujarat State School Textbook Board, as exemplary. The monthly, in its
latest August issue (click HERE
to download), quotes Modi congratulating Batra for his books first published as Prarnadeep series in Hindi, calling them “exemplary", and adding, he “admires” the effort, and “hopes” that Batra’s “commendable
literature” inspires children and teachers.
Devoting four pages, which are apparently excerpts from Batra’s books
(the monthly doesn’t specify), “Manogat” in an unsigned piece, interestingly, blames the Congress party for seeking to “project” life-inspiring incidents as “saffronization”. The
Congress, notably, began criticizing Batra’s books much later after several
newspapers and TV channels, starting with Indian Express, exposed their
content, with a large number of experts giving their comments on them.
“Introducing” Batra, and offering the list of 11 books which
are under attack from experts for seeking to spread superstition among children,
“Manogat” says, “Batra went to jail for seven times for taking a leading part in
the arena of educational reforms. Recently, he extensively traveled for in order to
propagate the values of Indian culture and natural life, which have become
symbols of progress over the last two decades.”
The journal also quotes Gujarat education minister
Bhupendrasinh Chudasma as justifying Batra’s books, calling them “examples of
national inspiration”, adding, they provide “graphic evidence” from history
about individuals who have become “immortal” through “exemplary courage, polite
behaviour, dedication to religion, and achievements.” The tales about these
individuals have been told in a “very simple language” and there is “no talk
about secularism anywhere”, the minister, who claims to be extremely close to Modi, adds.
Batra shot into prominence following his campaign against American
scholar Wendy Doniger’s book on Hinduism, which let the top publishers Penguins
to withdraw it from Indian market. Later, he sent a legal notice to another
publisher about a book on modern Indian history which led the publisher to
begin a review of some of its books, including one on sexual violence during
riots in Ahmedabad. The books were released by minister Chudasma for Gujarat schools
in March.
Batra, in his books, calls celebrating birthdays by blowing
candles “a western tradition”, which should be “shunned”, and instead asks
children to “wear clothes manufactured in India, recite Gayatri Mantra, take
part in religious ceremonies, feed cows” on that day. He says that motorcars
were invented in India during the Vedic
period (1500 to 500 BCE), that stem cell research was invented in
India thousands of years ago, that Indian sages have been using television for
centuries, and that the word “shudra” was introduced by the British.
One of the books exposes his anti-black views. It reads, “The
aircraft was flying thousands of feet high in the sky. A very strongly built
negro reached the rear door and tried to open it. The air-hostesses tried to
stop him but the strongly built negro pushed the soft-bodied hostesses to the
floor and shouted, ‘Nobody dare move a step ahead’. An Indian grabbed the negro
and he could not escape. The pilot and the Indian together thrashed the negro
and tied him up with a rope. Like a tied buffalo, he frantically tried to
escape but could not. The plane landed safely in Chicago. The negro was a
serious criminal in the Chicago records and this brave Indian was an employee
of Air India” (Prernadeep-2).
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