“You cannot read a cartoon in isolation from the text with which it appears”
Rejecting the view that the cartoon in the Standard XII textbook, prepared by the NCERT, denigrated the anti-Hindi movement in Tamil Nadu, Yogendra Yadav, Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, argued that the “book is one of the first attempts in the history of textbook writing in India to have given due prominence to the Dravidian Movement in post-Independent India.”
“I am shocked and surprised to see that the legatees of the Dravidian Movement are objecting to the textbook. It is ironic that such an initiative is being attacked by those who should have welcomed it,” Prof. Yogendra Yadav told The Hindu on the phone from Delhi.
Mr. Yadav, one of the chief advisers of the NCERT who resigned after a controversy broke out over a cartoon on Dr. Ambedkar, said: “You cannot read a cartoon in isolation from the text with which it appears.”
Recalling the text accompanying the cartoon, “initially seen as a threat to Indian nationalism, regional politics in Tamil Nadu is a good example of the compatibility of regionalism and nationalism,” he said this text had recognised how significant and effective the anti-Hindi agitation was and the deep impact the Dravidian Movement had on Tamil Nadu politics. “I don't see how this is an affront to Tamil pride.”
Mr. Yadav said that like poetry or painting, a cartoon was a balance of several elements, and one could not pick and choose or drop one element at one's will.
“The section on the Dravidian Movement has four elements, besides the text. There is a text box on the biography of Periyar. There is a photograph [courtesy, the photo archives of The Hindu] of the anti-Hindi demonstration, which shows the depth of mass mobilisation. There is a small clipping about the opposition to the Dravidian Movement by Hindi protagonists. Finally, there is a cartoon drawn at that time by R.K. Laxman, which brings out an element of irony, which was noted by commentators at that time. The right way to look at a textbook is to ask whether all the four elements and the text, as a whole, give a fair and non-partisan description of various view points,” he said.
@janakarajp, looks like you are one of those chauvinistic fanatics indoctrinated and brainwashed by Dravidian politicians. Get your facts right and then spew your comments. Just like Tamil, there are many Hindi speaking people too through out the world, likewise there are Kannada speaking people, and people from other Indian languages too all over the world.
You want world to respect your language, but how will they respect you when you and your ilk talk bad about others. Give respect and take respect.
I simply cannot believe that such cartoons are getting placed in our NCERT books,which i have always thought of as good quality textbooks. The authorities must have had a forethought on what would or would not bring up such controversies,and at the same time try to bring in a bigger picture of any political event without influencing the school go-er's perception.
this cartoon gives an impression that the whole dravidian movement was an act of violence.
What do they want to convey to the students by the words "The boy can't read english either!"
if text(around cartoon) should be read to understand,whats the point in having cartoon? .Everyone in india know what does it mean when a politician says " Investigations are on,we will bring culprit to the paper.law will takes its own course"...its just a similar statement from NCERT advisiors for intended abusive illustration of Dravidian movement..similar with legendary Dr.Ambedkar
Indians, learn to live with your history as it is, and not as you WANT IT TO BE. What was, was. What is and will be is going to be defined by how you act and react in the here and now.
Often I think that the purpose of history in school text books should not be to teach what happened, but how to handle the realities of what happened. People want unearned respect, unquestioned greatness and botch up reality to suit fantasy. The well built up idea of Indian tolerance is going into the sewage. Shame on Indians with this kind of mentality.
The cartoon stating the boy can't read English is an apt comment on those who are commenting here. It reflects the mentality of those who are quick to act without comprehending what they are acting against.
While the text which is supposed to be in the book appears to be non-partisan, the image isn't. Following queries pop to my mind:
1. The agitator has taken rocks and thrown books at his feet! Doesn't it mean that he is stomping on the books! Thus showing that the agitator is wrong!
2. He is throwing it a place where two elderly people are present, which indicate contempt!
3. His expression of anger and body posture is exactly that of a mindless thug!
4. The snide comment at the back ;the boy cant read English either. asserts the previous point and also acts as a sneer.
A just reply. Regional parties will do well to look at issues in a bipartisan way instead of just jumping the gun.
You might say - You cannot read a cartoon in isolation from the text with which it appears - but the impact the cartoon makes on a student's mind is always very deep. This will make the future citizen prejudiced towards the dravidians. The words 'English forever' itself shows the author's hatred on this movement. What is the need for cartoons in textbooks without changing the method of examinations? This cartoon and similar row on cartoons in textbooks illustrates that the so-called educationists, while designing the book have not fully understood the influence they are making on young minds, who are going to be future leaders of the nation or a profession or whatsoever. It is really pathetic that everything is taken very lightly now, without knowing where an individual's action - leave alone committee - lead in future.
The current opposition by Tamil legatees is debased attempt to thwart their dwindling support. The caricatures should be seen in its entirety but not in isolation. I hope better sense prevails over antagonistic people.
I am not sure if Yogendra Yadav is so naive to suggest 'You cannot read a cartoon in isolation from the text with which it appears' in these days where quoting out of context is not only because of ignorance but primarily because of politics. The responsibility of writers become all the more important because their 'lines' can/will be quoted in isolation. I also don't know how for examples courts will react - can it say 'always quote in context'?. This may lead to ridiculous levels - for some author can say you have to quote the entire book :D One can even understand the same when you pick lines out of a novel or a story book, but how can it be even reasoned in a school textbook? The inability of the writer to pen sentences which are apolitical (as much as possible) only reflects on the incompetence of the writer and the NCERT to employ such a writer in the first place.
It is highly intriguing why such a cartoon has been included in the NCERT curriculam. What is the need to rake up a sensitive old issue at this point of time? It is not in good taste and need not have depicted a great leader and visionary like Rajaji in such a contraversial cartoon now. Such attempts cause great damages - sometimes irrapairable - to the federal nature of our country - which is actually a subcontinent.
However let us take a positive view from the cartoon and strive to improve the quality of English in our schools and collages. Of late the whole world is observing that the graduates passing out of Tamilnadu are very poor in spoken and written English whereas those passing out of other states are improving. Just a few years back it was other way round. The vocabulary, pronounciation and grammer of our students are getting poorer and the students from other parts of our country are getting better.
Our State Government can spread this awareness and help out.
Plainly this cartoon is a hurt to Tamils. Both Vaiko and Kalaignar are right in calling for its withdrawal. Will the academics and think tanks responsible for readying text books for the schools change their obejective to making text books look stronger in serious content with a view improving the knowledge of the pupils rather than look like magazines and periodicals lighter in content needing cartoons to keep up the pupils interest. Not only political scores are being settled through these cartoons against one section of the people or another but these two incidents have rightly raised the quality of contents of the books as well. Those respopnsible for the text books have to answer this charge too.
I think the dravidians are irked that the cartoon suggests they don't know english. What is wrong if you dont know english? Is it anything to be ashamed? Where is tamil loyalty from tamilians? English is not your language.
INC political motive with NCERT | Tamil lovers & Indian Politicians must control this Kind of Psycho Crime from Indian Central government | Tamil is Internationalize language, but Hindi ?, its only In India. | respect each other, don't try to force. lets NCERT start teach Tamil in all Indian state ?
These Dravidian parties are highly selfish and cut throats. For political gains they objected to Hindi due to which Tamilians lost many opportunities and now they are licking the same Hindi people for political gains to cover up their looted money!These jokers have no self respect!!
Here you go again, we all know the history very well. Stop the politics out of simple cartoon. DMK, MDMK and AIADMK please think about common people who are inflation, power cut and city traffic.
I don't see how this cartoon brings out irony. Does it raise a bigger point or even contribute to the debate? It merely ridicules the student agitation. Of course, some students may not have been fluent in English. This can't have been a serious issue for debate. After all, the agitators didn't claim to be specially proficient in English. Their point was that English does not provide an unfair advantage to any particular region. Besides, English has a historical connection to present day Tamil Nadu - unlike Hindi. We should definitely try to give a 'fair and non-partisan description of various view points' - but only when the viewpoints are constructive and benign. For instance, if a viewpoint is racist, it does NOT merit an equal share in the discussion! This cartoon represents a snide mocking voice - it does not belong in a textbook!
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