All major political parties in Tamil Nadu want a cartoon removed from a textbook being used in government schools.
Here are 10 big facts on this story:
- The cartoon, by R K Laxman, is part of a textbook on Political Science for Class 12 students. The cartoon is part of a section on regionalism.
- The cartoon deals with the anti-Hindi protests in 1965 when students fought against attempts to make Hindi the official language of the state because they worried this would make Tamils second-class citizens.
- Politicians say it depicts students as ignorant and violent.
- MDMK leader Vaiko had written to the centre complaining about the cartoon. The DMK, which is an ally of the UPA, has also asked for its removal. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has said projecting the state's anti-Hindi agitation as a violent movement is unacceptable. (Read Jayalalithaa's full statement)
- Education Minister Kapil Sibal has said a committee will study the cartoon. That committee, headed by Professor Skhdeo Thorat, is already reviewing textbooks for Political and Social Science used by students from Class 9 to Class 12.
- The committee was set up to identify "educationally inappropriate material"
- It is expected to submit is report on Friday, June 15.
- The cartoon controversy in Tamil Nadu follows an uproar in parliament over a cartoon by Shankar in another textbook. The cartoon was attacked for being disrespectful of BR Ambedkar.
- Intellectuals and others argued that was not the case and that the cartoon was being misrepresented.
- Teachers say that cartoons in textbooks can help students understand the topic and offer them some respite from heavy reading.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
