Panel Suggests Changes in Books’ Portrayal of Hindus

Aiming for compromise in a furor over the portrayal of Hinduism and ancient India in sixth-grade history books, a subcommittee recommended Monday that the California Board of Education adopt several changes to the text but acknowledged that neither side in the heated debate was likely to be satisfied.

Hindu groups had flooded the state board with thousands of requests to correct what they regard as inaccurate and unfair depictions of their faith as one that mistreats women and minorities, believes in polytheism and was brought to India by outsiders.

But dozens of scholars and secular groups argued against the changes, saying they were unscholarly attempts to fabricate history and gloss over unpleasant aspects of Hindu practice.

After more than two hours of sometimes heated public testimony, the panel’s five-member history and social sciences committee voted to recommend that the full Board of Education accept a staff report on the proposed changes at its meeting March 8.

“Both sides thought we didn’t go far enough,” said Glee Johnson, state Board of Education president. “But a lot of this represented a reasonable compromise.”

About one-quarter of the education department’s 126-page staff report on requested changes to several California-approved textbooks involved Hinduism. Several staff recommendations on issues in one textbook conflicted with those of others, however.

For instance, the report recommends that one textbook narrow language that women had fewer rights in ancient India to say only that they had fewer property rights. But in another section, the report recommends keeping the broader language. The California-based Hindu Education Foundation and other Hindu groups had asked that the text say women had “different” rights.

Johnson said the committee’s intent was to accept the more narrow language on property rights, and that the report would be reviewed to ensure all recommendations were consistent.