After objections, Gujarat board revises para on Buddhism in Class 12 Sociology textbook
The Buddhists had objected to the textbook’s claims that the religion has two levels – upper level comprising elites and lower level comprising marginal groups — its religious teacher is known as ‘Lama’, and that it believes in reincarnation, among others.
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The controversial paragraph was part of a chapter on “Indian Culture and Community”.
Following objections by Buddhists and their organisations over alleged false depiction of Buddhism in a Class 12 Sociology textbook issued by Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks (GSBST), the latter has replaced the “controversial” paragraph and instructed all district education officers to ensure that students are taught the revised one.
The Buddhists had objected to the textbook’s claims that the religion has two levels – upper level comprising elites and lower level comprising marginal groups — its religious teacher is known as ‘Lama’, and that it believes in reincarnation, among others.
The GSBST Wednesday issued a circular – a copy of which is available with The Indian Express – which has been sent to district education officers along with the new paragraph in Gujarati, English, Hindi, Marathi and Urdu.
The controversial paragraph was part of a chapter on “Indian Culture and Community”.
The paragraph read, “Like Sikhs, the portion of the followers of Buddhism is also meager in India. Most of them live in Maharashtra. They also reside in north-west India and in Arunachal Pradesh. Buddhism had a considerable spread in India at the time of the emperor Ashoka. Buddhism has three branches, namely, Hinyana, Mahayana and Virajyana. It has two levels. The upper level of Buddhism includes Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and certain elites, while the lower level consists of the tribals and marginal groups converted to Buddhism. Sarnath, Saanchi and Bodhigaya are important centers of Buddhism. Their religious teacher is known as Lama. Their religious places, known as Buddhist temples, have ‘wish wheel’. Tripitaka is their scripture and they believe in karma and reincarnation.”
The revised paragraph in English, as attached with the circular, read: “The religion of Tathagat Buddh (a word of Dhamma-Pali language) is global. Today, followers of Buddhism in India and Gujarat are in notable number. The three important events in the life of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha, namely birth, Sambodhi (absolute knowledge) and Mahaparinirvana (someone who has attained nirvana in his lifetime and after death) happened at Lumbini, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar, respectively. Sheel (morality), Samadhi (a state of meditative consciousness) and Pragya (understanding of the true nature of phenomena) are the essence of Buddhism. Sufferings, impermanence and Anatm (non-self) are three fundamental concepts of Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism, though not believing in unchangeable and eternal soul, believes in karma and reincarnation.”
“Followers of Buddhism are considered as equals as there in no distinction of caste or class among them. The main aim of the Buddhism is to get rid of sufferings and achieve nirvana. Tripitika is the main book of Buddhism. Lumbini, Kushinagar, Shravasti, Rajgrih, Vaishali, Kousambi and Sankisa are major places of pilgrimage… ,” it added.
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