Dear Editor/Jane McMillan,

I listened to the interview that you conducted with Anu Madavilli from FOSA on Saturday, 3/11/06 regarding California textbook changes on KCBS. Contrary to what Anu says, more than 70% of the changes are accepted by the State Board of Education.

Anu mentions that today Ancient India represents three countries namely, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan and hence we should look at the culture and religions of those countries too. However, She forgets that the textbooks are indeed talking about Ancient India and Ancient Hindu culture. So where is the question of discussing the three countries and their current religions and culture? Some of the contentions of FOSA are based on the wrong context that they put Ancient India in, while viewing issues.

Three main contentions between Hindu groups and the left groups such as FOSA are: Attributing Caste based divisions to Hinduism, Women's rights in Hinduism, and Aryan Invasion theory.

Caste based discrimination is a social evil and is not defendable by any means. But attributing this to Hinduism is wrong. Hindu philosophy talks about 4 Varnas(classes) of people based on their aptitude and their characteristics. The Varna system was not rigid and did not call for discrimination based on Varna. But today, Indian society has around 4000 castes. Besides, even Christians and Muslims follow caste system along with Hindus and do discriminate, though there are laws preventing discrimination.

Women are given the status of Mother and Goddess in Hinduism. Scriptures say- where women are respected, Gods are happy. There are innumerable examples of exemplary Hindu scholars, saints, warriors and administrators from Vedic period until today in Hindu society. While the text books says that women had equal rights as men in Islam, why talk about lower rights for women in Hinduism. What would a child who is studying these religions make out of Hinduism?

Aryan Invasion Theory(AIT) was originally devised by Max Muller in 1848. There are so many gaping holes and disconnects in this theory that modern scholars are refusing to accept this as a fact. The discovery of river Saraswati has turned the scholars to accept that Aryans were indeed the indigenous people. The cities and the river Saraswati has disappeared not because of any invasion, but because of some natural catastrophe. The textbooks were projecting this as a fact. Hindu groups have convinced the State board to mention this as a controversial theory in the textbooks. (For details regarding AIT: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/history/history5.shtml)

If you would like your listeners to listen to the entire issue, please interview people from both sides for a balanced view of this issue.

Thanks,
Ashwini Surpur
Cupertino - CA