Culture
India is known for its unconventional attitude towards certain types of meat. More recently, the country published a school textbook, the authors of which claim that those who eat meat “cheat, lie, forget about promises and commit sexual crimes.” This is a literal quote from a book that made us talk about itself and literally divided society into those who support this view and those who are against it.
The new textbook on hygiene and health is intended for school-age children. The book was published by one of the leading Indian publishers. In a matter of days, everyone started talking about that textbook.
Vegetarianism for and against
Here is a quote from one of the chapters with the very telling title “Should We Eat Flesh”: “The main argument that meat is not a necessary food is that the Creator of this The universe did not include meat in the diets of Adam and Eve's first humans. He gave them fruits, nuts, and vegetables, which says a lot. This means that meat, according to the Creator, is a foreign food that can and should be excluded from the menu.”
This section of the book also lists all the advantages of a vegetarian diet. The author gives some “characteristics” that, in his opinion, are inherent in those who eat meat products. For example, it is easy for them to deceive, lie, and not keep their promises.
Meat eaters are dishonest and dishonest, they like to swear. Such people are characterized by theft, fights and other offenses. The textbook says that so-called meat eaters use violence and commit sexual crimes, while vegetarians are far from such a “fall from sin.”
In the same chapter, meat eaters are called “lazy, lethargic, and defective creatures because they eat animal products.” Meat is evil, as the authors of the textbook say. And to avoid it, you should completely stop eating meat products. Only then will the long-awaited harmony come. Such hurtful remarks about meat eaters could not escape the public.
Other questionable claims that were immediately challenged include the following: “Muslims, mostly Arabs, who built the Suez Canal, ate only millet and dates, and were healthier than Europeans who ate beef and constantly suffered from various diseases.”
The book under discussion is not entirely correct in content
S Chand, one of the publishing firms, did not comment on such statements. But experts, meanwhile, called on the country's leaders to pay more attention to the content of textbooks. Books intended for children should not contain questionable statements that have no basis. These statements should be backed up by facts, and not just taken from the minds of some not quite competent people.
Jamia Millia, one of the teachers at Delhi State University, believes that, according to most school staff, such a book is nothing more than a real poison. In her opinion, such a poison can poison children's minds, as well as their normal perception of certain things.
The book is available to anyone
The government has all the powers to intervene in the current situation and resolve the issue, but in fact it is clear that the authorities are diligently avoiding this issue. In other words, rulers wash their hands. The country's authorities are shifting responsibility for the incident, calling the incident a misunderstanding.
The country's authorities claim that schools are responsible for the choice of educational literature and its quality, namely managers and teachers who choose textbooks and the material that will be studied children during the school year.
So far, it has not been reported which schools in India have purchased this textbook. We only know that the book is on free sale, and anyone can order it absolutely freely and without hindrance.