This is old hat in India, where, just a few months back, there were literally riots in the streets because the government wanted to dig a canal through an isthmus that was thrown up by Hanuman, the Monkey God, during an episode in the Ramayana.

These are the folks that American corporations, like Dell, Microsoft, ATT, ad nauseum, have sold our soul to in order to hire customer service workers for a nickel an hour. While poor lower caste individuals live on oats they dig out of horse feces, we subsidize this insanity by moving technical jobs to the subcontinent where they can be done by people whose 4th language is english.

Come on, folks, THE emerging economy? What is wrong with our culture that we will enable this sort of idiocy in the name of "religious freedom" and lower wages?

It should be noted that the father's name, Rasheed, sounds Muslim and the mother's name, Lakshmi Devi, sounds Hindu. There may be some other meaning there that I'm missing - I don't know what Anvar represents, for example.

Having born in a Hindu family and Caste No.2, I can very well appreciate the deeper meaning behind ths converation. Against all my desire and willingess, I am not able to give up both. Indian society and for that matter, in most part of the word, have never allowed to discuss the issue of caste and religion and for that matter sprituality. The whole issue is an overhyped tradition continuing ever since, suffocating to many, like me to live in that society. The so called elite, professional society is scared to even discuss this issue in social circles and in public life. Becasue wrong perception about spirituality, caste and religion, Indian society has not been able to irradicate poverty, poor sanitation and provide good quality education to majority.

Its frustrating and helpless situation

I downloaded the text book and read it cover to cover.

The controversy is beyond the text as mentioned in this post.

Here are my comments on the same:

Having an excerpt from AK Gopalan's (auto)biography is not expected. He is a well known communist leader of yester years. This is like bombarding commie thoughts in class 7.

The style in which "Kudiyozhippikkal" and Karivellur Samaram are introduced indeed has a commie angle.

Too much stress on Land Reforms, unwanted.

Would a 7th standard kid understand Smt KR Gouriamma's response to a bill, as told in the assembly?? Why are they doing this?

Pages on Human Devlopment Indices of Kerala, good, acceptable.

I don't understand-what is being taught? Time line of the social changes?

Why is there an excerpt on how lower caste women used to have food left over by Antarjanams(Namboodiri Brahmin women)??? What are the commies trying to convey?

Channar Revolt-unwanted , again selling commie ideology.

Vaikom and Guruvayoor Satyagrahams-These should have been the ONLY one to be included in the text book, rather worth including.

Pratyaksha Rakshasabha-why get into every single point of social equality.

Wouldn't the mention of Vaikom or Guruvayur be enough?

Same with the mention of Muslim Ikyasangham.

After going through all these portions, a 7th standard kid reaches a chapter that says, say no not only to caste, but religion. Should these things be taught in school, that too at this level?

Having the lines from all holy books-accepted.

But, I still haven't understood the relevance of a question that asks which religion would be affected the max by inflation, water scarcity, contagious diseases and earthquake..!!!

May be they wanted the answer, people of all religions would be affected. sigh!

Chapter 3

Iniyum Muttott-the mention of Palm Oil rates was unwanted, rest accepted.

The next page that mentions a "rich guy" who says he will do whatever with his land while a passerby comments why are people protesting? These two kinds of people are painted a shade of ENEMY;yes, the commies what more jobless people for DYFI , SFI whatever.

The text says, "As discussed in a class, these were the meanings of Freedom"; instead this should have been an open discussion in every class. Shouldn't that been a better way to do it rather than already having 4 meanings for freedom.

Parts of the British coming in-well, good! But comparing it with today's situation? Do they expect an answer of the lines of communism?? Please, gimme a break!!!

Parts on Bhagat Singh and other revolutionaries-acceptable.

Throwing light on the revolt of 1857, Jalianwalla Bagh massacare-yes, much needed at this level. If not in class 7, when?

Other parts on Indian History like pages on Khilafat,Dandi Satyagraha,Quit India-acceptable.

This chapter ends with a note to start a discussion on Land grabbing, caste/gender based discrimination, accumulation of wealth--is this an NDTV debate?

News clippings on Forest Guards/Excise attacked,or Sand/Liqour mafia attacking people-UNWANTED.

Then why not include DYFI/SFI vandalising,killing people in Kannur??? HUH!

Asking the students to compare the British discipline to India's prgress(ie Mukesh Ambani's wealth)-Weird, useless

Portion on length of day/night-acceptable.

Other geography portions, parts on civilizations and the rest of the book seem fine to me.

The text book in Malayalam is available at

http://www.4shared.com/file/52342374/1df26d5a/Seven_Std_Text_KERALA.html