School texts in India promote Hindu extremism, Jesuit charges
August 26, 2014
The Jesuit director of a human-rights center in India has charged that the state of Gujarat promotes anti-Christian ideologies in its schools, the Fides news service reports.
Father Cedric Prakash, SJ, said that text used in the schools of Gujarat have fueled Hindu extremism. He said that Hindu nationalists “are now aiming at manipulating the public education system” to promote their goals.
Father Prakash pointed to books that, he said, “propagate fascist ideology” and undermine India’s commitment to pluralism. “The books are full of myths and falsehoods, superstitions and prejudices, with gross distortions and manipulations,” he said.
The texts in question were published early this year, and drew praise from Narendra Modi—who was then prime minister of Gujarat, and is now prime minister of India.
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