A striking example of Hinduphobia now in American school History textbooks – here’s what has been revealed.
In a few World History textbooks in the US, Hinduism has been presented in a negative light. It is said that this is precisely why Hindu Americans are worried about SB403 and how it might affect the Hindu community, especially the Hindu children growing up in the West. Such narratives in textbooks can shape how the average American perceives Hinduism and its followers from a young age.
The Hindu community in the US feels that this particular History textbook goes against the principles of promoting harmony, mutual respect, and understanding. Instead, it fosters prejudice, bullying, and the targeting of Hindu-American children. With such information being fed into naive children, young minds can easily be led to believe that Hinduism is solely about “caste, cow, curry, chaos.” At the same time, its significant contributions to yoga, Ayurveda, mathematics, science, and more are entirely overlooked. Regrettably, many Hindu American children internalise this simplified depiction as reality, often seeking acceptance in their broader society by distancing themselves from their own cultural heritage.
What does the History textbook say?
An excerpt from the Princeton Review’s ASAP World History, 2018 & 2019 Editions shows negative stereotypes perpetuated in the book. Hindu parents feel this is what is leading to the bullying of Hindu kids in schools.
In the section about India, the textbook notes that while India is the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, it also saw the introduction of Islam in the 10th century when invaders set up shop in Delhi. And spread Islam for three centuries beginning in 1206. Apparently, under the Delhi Sultanate, colleges were created, irrigation systems were improved, and Hindu architects and artists oversaw the construction of mosques.
However, it also mentions, “Not everything about this arrangement was friendly, however. Muslims in this theoretically tolerant regime taxed nonbelievers and even destroyed some Hindu temples. Many Hindus in northern India converted. Sometimes the conversions were genuine; other times they just made life easier. In general, many Hindus in northern India converted to Islam, while those in southern India retained their Hindu traditions.”
The lesson also compares and contrasts Islam with Hinduism, and some false information is presented.
It says Islam holds that all people are equal under God, while Hinduism upholds the caste system.
It also notes that for Islam, cows mean food, while for Hinduism, cows are sacred. The next point is problematic.
It says Islam sees itself as tolerant of other beliefs and even mixed with other beliefs, while Hinduism sees itself as universal and exclusive.
When Kaffirs (nonbelievers of Islam) are killed and burnt to death, STSJ takes place; how can a textbook claim that Islam is tolerant of other beliefs while Hinduism isn’t!. And how can a religion be universal and exclusive at the same time?
In 2017, the State Board of Education (SBE) within the California Department of Education voted unanimously to decline two problematic textbook programs by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (for Grades K-6 and Grades 6-8). These textbooks were rejected because they portrayed Hinduism and other diverse communities in a negative light.
What is SB403?
California State Assembly passed an anti-caste discrimination bill, becoming the first US state to address caste discrimination through legislation. California became the first American state with an anti-caste discrimination bill when the California State Assembly approved the SB 403 bill on August 28th. This proposed law, intended to modify existing anti-discrimination regulations, seeks to combat prejudice against marginalized groups. Previously, the California state senate approved this legislation, positioning California as potentially the first state in the United States to include caste as a protected category within its anti-discrimination laws.
The notorious Soros-funded organisation Equality Labs has pushed for the bill.
The case against Cisco in 2020 ensured that fake caste-based narratives could be set up easily against naïve Hindu Americans. Moreover, when legislation is based on such biased perspectives and relies on data provided by hate groups, it can cement these stereotypes into laws, potentially depriving a community of its civil rights.
