Author: K. R. Ravi,
Mumbai
Publication: The Indian
Express
Date: September 29,
2000
Sir: Kuldip Nayar writes
that Mr Vajpayee may be a closet communalist, that he is not sincere in
upholding India's "plural" tradition, that the Human Resource Minister
is feverishly trying to Hinduise our education system.
Our education system
was fathered by Macaulay, who wrote to his father: "Our English schools
are flourishing wonderfully. The effect of this education on Hindus is
prodigious. It is our belief that if our plans of education are followed
up there will not be a single idolater among the respectable classes in
Bengal 30 years hence. And this will be effected without any efforts to
proselytise without the smallest interference with religious liberty by
natural operation of knowledge and reflection."
Is there anything wrong
if the Education Minster tries to introduce in our schools subjects like
yoga, Vedic mathematics or India's contribution to science? Does knowledge
become communal simply because it is prefixed by the word "Vedic"?
As for India's pluralism
and the need for Mr Vajpayee to uphold it, I would like Kuldip Nayar and
others of his persuasion to let us know why they were silent when the Pope,
during his recent visit to India, remarked that the salvation for the people
for Asia lies only in Christ. Had such a remark been made by a Hindu religious
head, the "secular" brigade would have castigated him in no uncertain terms.
Secularism which demands
that only Hindus display tolerance and respect for other faiths is called
pseudo-secularism.