[May 20, 2016]

Hindu Americans Make Strides in Improving California Textbooks

The Hindu American community has made progress in its effort to ensure Hinduism and Indian history are accurately and equitably represented in the Social Science and History Framework put forth by the California Department of Education.

In a hearing held yesterday, May 19, 2016, the Instructional Quality Commission heard testimony from scholars, Hindu organizations, and members of the Hindu American community about the importance of equity and cultural competency in California textbooks. Many important decisions were made in favor of their proposed edits, including the decision not to replace mentions of India with "South Asia" and the reintroduction of two sages of diverse backgrounds.

"For years, the American perception of Hinduism and India has been overly simplistic and inaccurate, in part due to the content of California textbooks," said Samir Kalra, Esq., Senior Director for the Hindu American Foundation. "This CDE textbook revision process has been a protracted effort to correct these inaccuracies. While we have voiced concerns about irregularities in the process, we also deeply appreciate the way this issue has engaged the Hindu American community in the civic process. There are nearly a million Indian and Hindu Americans who call California home, so it's important for them to see their cultural and religious heritage represented with accuracy and parity."

About the process

Since 2014, efforts by the Hindu American community have been underway to update the textbook framework put forth by the CDE, which currently reinforces cultural stereotypes and historical inaccuracies about Hinduism and India. This effort, supported by leading social science and religious scholars, is motivated by a desire for cultural competency and a fair accurate portrayal of Hinduism and Indian history. However, a different faction of scholars disagreed with the proposed changes and redacted some of them.

On May 19, 2016 the CDE's Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) held a hearing during which it considered the edits line by line. The IQC ruled largely in favor of the Hindu American community's edits. In July, a final decision will be reached, and a final draft of the framework will be created.

"Hinduism should be represented in California K-12 textbooks in a manner comparable to other religions fairly, accurately and equitably," said Barbara A. McGraw, J.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism, Saint Mary's College of California. "This debate concerns a teaching document for K-12 teachers. It should not create unnecessary obstacles for a more constructive understanding of the Indian subcontinent and the world's third largest religion. In this regard, ironically, the South Asia Faculty Group's attempt to nuance Indian history caused the opposite effect. Robust academic debate about the politics of India are welcome, but that debate is not appropriately addressed in a K-12 textbook Framework narrative in California. Luckily, some of yesterday's decisions reflect that thinking."

Testimony was emotionally charged at times, with Hindu students testifying about feeling like their identities and heritage were under attack; Dalits shared the pain of being victims of caste-based discrimination.

"We have nothing but the utmost sympathy and respect for the victims of caste discrimination who spoke about their experiences at the hearing," added Murali Balaji, the Hindu American Foundation's Director of Education. "The Foundation respects the right for Dalits to self-define."

Hindu organizations and scholar groups were particularly critical of the South Asia Faculty Group's recommendation to remove mention of two of Hinduism's most respected sages, Valmiki and Vyasa, who hailed from disadvantaged communities.

"As a Shudra [disadvantaged community], I am really proud that our collective efforts were able to bring the contributions of Sage Vyasa and Sage Valmiki back into the Framework," said Sandeep Dedage, California Coordinator for the Hindu Education Foundation. "We're also pleased that the academically questionable recommendation of the South Asia Faculty Group to replace 'India' with 'South Asia' was also rejected."

A final decision on this matter will be reached in July, and a final draft of the framework will be created. For more information on HAF, please visit www.hafsite.org.

About the Hindu American Foundation

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is an advocacy organization for the Hindu American community. The Foundation educates the public about Hinduism, speaks out about issues affecting Hindus worldwide, and builds bridges with institutions and individuals whose work aligns with HAF's objectives. HAF focuses on human and civil rights, public policy, media, academia, and interfaith relations. Through its advocacy efforts, HAF seeks to cultivate leaders and empower future generations of Hindu Americans. The Hindu American Foundation is not affiliated with any religious or political organizations or entities. HAF seeks to serve Hindu Americans across all sampradayas (Hindu religious traditions) regardless of race, color, national origin, citizenship, caste, gender, sexual orientation, age and/or disability.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160520005165/en/

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