It is good that the publisher has withdrawn this book, but how did it get in the schools in the first place? There are terrorists all over the world who invoke the texts and teachings of Islam in order to justify violence and supremacism. Yet it is certain that there are no textbooks in Britain that dare to link Islam with terrorism, and if there were such books, the outcry would be far larger than the one over this book. The double standard is obvious and undeniable.
“Publisher withdraws British schoolbook linking Hinduism with terrorism,” IANS, October 8, 2020:
LONDON: A British GCSE religious studies workbook has been scrapped from a schools website and withdrawn by the publisher after it sparked outrage among the British Indians who said it linked Hinduism to terrorism.
The book bearing the AQA logo (the examination board which sets and awards GSCES and A levels), had been downloadable from the curriculum section of the website of Langley School, a comprehensive secondary school in Solihull, West Midlands — until Monday.
A description of Hinduism on page four of the book states: “Holy books teach that it is necessary to be able to morally justify war in order to preserve dharma. Arjuna, as a Kshatriya, is reminded of his duty to uphold a righteous cause and that in fact there is nothing better than a righteous war. “If the cause is just, Hindus will take up arms. Self-defence is justifiable; hence India has nuclear weapons to protect from aggressors. Some Hindus have turned to terrorism to protect Hindu beliefs. The Arthashastra scriptures state that governments must act with a suitable moral approach, which implies a just one.”…
An AQA spokesperson said: “We didn’t produce the workbook that’s been shared on social media and our logo was used on it without our permission. Some of the material in it seems to have come from a textbook — we’ve spoken to the publisher, which has withdrawn the book from sale while it addresses the issue.”
Raj Agnihotri says
Hinduism is not a religion it is Dharma.
Jayell says
Very interesting. What does ‘dharma’ mean?
Om says
https://rajivmalhotra.com/library/articles/dharma-religion/
Ravi says
Dharma means the order that makes life and universe possible, and includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and “right way of living”.
John Allan says
Dharma refers to the state of well-being of a practitioner.
SKA says
Now the heavy presence of Pakistani Muslims in the UK could not have anything to do with this, could it?
Jayell says
Those who know about the current demographics of the UK West Midlands will be well aware of the sort of clientele that schools in the area are likely to have, which then usually seems to affect who is appointed to the staff, maybe even in senior or ‘sensitive’ positions to keep certain elements happy particularly when they get themselves voted onto the Board of Governors? In which case, as we all know, things like honesty and intellectual integrity tend to become negotiable commodities – if not completely dispensible.
Cornelius says
I’d bet money a British Muslim of Pakistani descent was responsible for the slandering of the Hindu religion by the insertion of the terrorism content….(of course, we’ll never know…modern witch hunts typically only involve unmasking people of Western descent….anything else would be “racist”).
Boycott Turkey says
The UK establishment is Hinduphobic especially labour I have noticed they support Pakistan in the Kashmir issue I wonder if it’s to do with the British empire occupying India ? even during Queen Victoria’s reign I saw a documentary on how she had a Muslim advisor and he influenced her to be pro Islam in India and it’s also hypocritical to critise India’s for having nukes when the UK has them to also was Pakistan called a terrrorist for having nukes ? They should ban those books they are hate speech against Hindu Indians in UK why is the British Establishment racist towards the minority Hindus? Also I noticed the BBC had a very racist news report when reporting the conflict happening in Armenia only showing the Azerbaijan casualties and not Armenians and also saying how Armenians had a strong US lobby and where raising money to help if they had said Jews had a powerful lobby in US that would be Anti Semitic but it’s ok to say it about Armenians? I noticed the British are racist to UK minority’s who are at war or have disputes with Muslims British Establishment is Anti Hindu Anti Greek Anti Armenian Anti Serb they attacked us by helping Islam to attack us. I think Greece and Armenian should get nukes to like India Turkey wants to wipe us out fact I wish Greece would wake up and stop waiting for somebody to save them and build its military before its to late
Ecosse1314 says
The British foreign office is notorious for employing left wing graduates, generally from Oxford or Cambridge.
They are so anti-semitic and pro palestinian that it is a national embarasment.
Boycott Turkey says
Well you would think those left wing Graduates and professors would have some common sense and see Islam for what it is but I guess it’s true what they say just because you got a degree doesn’t mean you have any common sense
Kepha says
The trouble with Hinduism is that it is hard to draw its boundaries. By some definitions, it embraces every major non-“Abrahamic” religion of the subcontinent, including Buddhism and Jainism. While some forms are as peaceful as the day is long, “Hinduism” also embraces the original Thagee (Thugs).
Even so, I believe that mainstream British society has become so Islamophobic that it always tiptoes around any report of Islamic unsavoriness, hoping that it will be the last to be beheaded. I fear that North American socieyt is not so far behind.
Exposing You says
Not being peaceful in some circumstances= Terrorism? When did a Hindu bomb Britain? .You are as big as Hinduphobic as Radical Mullahs.
Michael Chernick says
Kepha, as you say, it is hard to draw boundaries around Hinduism. Because it’s authenticity comes from Vedic wisdom it’s wiser proponents have great tolerance for uniqueness, even thuggery. It is not so much that they embrace obnoxious behavior as they understand that perpetrators have background that bring them to a destiny they cannot change instantly due to karmic laws which they understand better than we do. There must be a bad guy in the dharmic world in order for their to be a good guy. So this understanding does not leave much room for the sin of superficial pride. They know that no two people think exactly alike and thus do not try to construct a limited variety of houses of worship. The sky is the limit so long as you don’t step on toes. Repression is the most dangerous tool used on others. Muslims are repressed, driven to behave like the Imam wants. No music in the mosque. Then a desire for an explosive liberation starts, and grows. Contrarily Vedic wisdom is so beyond the reach of Islamic teaching that tension will always remain.
Om says
Well said. Namaste.
XPOSER says
Your comment is Hinduphobic. Tell me how many bombings Hindus have one in Britain to be rewarded terrorist badge?
Halaku says
The Thugs were Muslims as well as Hindus who looted and killed unsuspecting wayfarers, in the name of Kali, a Hindu goddess. If that makes them a part of Hinduism, anyone killing in the name of Allah embraces Islam, naturally. Meadows Taylor’s book Confessions of a Thug, is an absorbing account of Thugs, mostly Muslims.
John Allan says
Thuggee!
gravenimage says
UK schoolbook links a religion with terrorism: Hinduism
……………..
Utter insanity.
Halaku says
Hinduism does not have one book like the Bible or the Koran that underpins it and which all have to follow. So there’s an openness to and acceptance of different ideas of God and even of no God. It is a life affirming culture that finds the concept of subduing or even killing others to convert them to your own point of view quite bizarre. The excerpt from the Gita which is a chapter in the epic Mahabharata, the latter by no means a religious text, justifies violence in defence of proven rights. In the story, Arjuna and his brothers have been unjustly deprived of their kingdom by their first cousins. Arjuna is reluctant to fight them, because of the blood relationship. The Mahabharata explores issues of justice and morality in a fascinating timeless way. Peter Brook’s adaptation gives you an idea.
The idea of righteousness in Islam is totally different, as only a Muslim can be righteous against non-believers. There is no need for morality or justice as we commonly understand it, when a Muslim is dealing with non-Muslims. The lesson which has been correctly withdrawn now, was trying to befuddle children by painting the two diametrically opposite concepts as similar.