THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, INDIA, June 24, 2008: In Kerala, a controversy hauls over a seventh standard social studies text. The chapter “Life without religion” has raised staunch opposition from religious leaders in Kerala, both Hindu and Muslim. Religious groups and opposition parties allege that the chapter undermines the role of religion and had been deliberately included to propagate the Marxist ideology.
“Not only this particular chapter but the entire text book should be banned,” said a Muslim leader.
The Kerala government says the text book has been prepared based on the National Curriculum Frame Work 2005 formulated by the UPA Govt. It is meant to inculcate secular ideas among students.