Terror tips? Students learn answer lies with Ram

As the country searches for answers to fight terror,many students across the country are learning that one may be right under their nose.

As the country searches for answers to fight terror,many students across the country are learning that one may be right under their nose. In the well-told story of a person who ended terrorism in India,sponsored by a neighbouring country and destroyed terror camps spread across the country. A man none other than Lord Ram.

Around five lakh students of classes IX and X in Gujarat,and apparently hundreds others across northern India,have appeared voluntarily for an examination based on a textbook reinterpreting Lord Ram as the fighter of terrorism sponsored by a neighbouring countrys king,Ravana. In Gujarat,the examination has the approval of the state Government.

A section of activists and educationists has criticised the attempt to superimpose religious mythology on present day challenges.

While Gujarat Education Minister Ramanlal Vora says the examination is not being endorsed by the

Government or even conducted in Gujarat,an official letter from the ministers own office is being used by the examination authority of the Bharatiya Sanskruti Gyan Pariksha Examination of Indian Culture Knowledge as proof of the states backing.

The textbook also flaunts an endorsement by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi inside the back cover.

Conducted by a Hardwar-based religious body,Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar,the first chapter of the textbook,which is available in both Gujarati and Hindi,is Loknayak Shree Ram,Jemne Jivanbhar Atankvad Same Sangharsh Karyo Peoples Leader Shree Ram,who fought against terrorism all through his life. It talks about terrorism sponsored by the king of a neighbouring country,Ravana,and his accomplices who also established terror cells in different parts of the country.

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History and mythology are different things. And drawing parallel from mythology to the present situation is childish and shows no understanding of statecraft. A state minister promoting such a private examination is very objectionable, says noted educationist and former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Ghanshyam Shah.

Human rights activist Raju Solanki has also shot off a letter to minister Vora asking him to withdraw the government circular supporting the examination. To tackle terrorism,we need an inclusive policy and inclusive development along with a scientific temperament not such mythology-based lessons, he says.

Dr Rajendra Kumar,the examinations convener in Gujarat from the Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar,confirmed that the Education Minister had given his approval to holding the examination in schools across the state. District education officers of Surat and Ahmedabad also confirmed to this newspaper that such a voluntary exam had been conducted in schools.