The hard hitting and timely editorial “Theatre of the absurd” (July 4) on the Thorat Committee’s recommendation to remove many cartoons from NCERT textbooks rightly lampoons the present state of affairs. Our politicians and bureaucrats ascribe to themselves an aura of infallibility. It is the public that is at the receiving end of all politicians’ deeds and misdeeds. They are temporary but the damage they cause to the nation is permanent. Thanks to this nation, they are unaccountable and end up having the last laugh.
But they do not tolerate being laughed at. They take themselves so seriously that they do not even want to be caricatured. Cartoons are an indicator of a democracy’s maturity. When you teach youngsters to appreciate political cartoons, you are teaching them the inevitability of the absurdities and inadequacies of the political system and the need to tolerate dissent. The exercise of clipping the cartoons from the textbooks shows that the political class is bent on making our children intellectually poor, emotionally intolerant and psychologically immature — a reflection of itself.
K. Rajagopal,
Visakhapatnam
The editorial was forthright and timely. The implementation of the Thorat Committee recommendations will be an act of emotional and educational suicide. Had Nehru been alive, he would have surely condemned the move and lamented the intellectual bankruptcy.
C.P. Chandra Das,
Coimbatore
All cartoons recommended for deletion speak volumes about the political condition of a particular era. As a student who studied the textbooks with the cartoons in them, I did not find anything sensitive — religious or political. I still remember how we, the students, looked with great awe and admiration at the cartoon which has been recommended for deletion on the ground that it affects religious sensitivity. All 30 students of our class agreed with the message it conveyed. We even had a full-fledged discussion on it. I pity my juniors who will now be studying the political science textbook without these cartoons.
A. Reshma,
Thiruvananthapuram
As one who studied political science in school, I recognise that the cartoons not only made the subject more interesting and easy to understand, but also encouraged me to look at political history from a different perspective. It is surprising that the Thorat Committee believes that students are incapable of appreciating political humour.
Some cartoons have been termed inappropriate as politicians and institutions are represented as animals in them. I fail to understand how allegory and symbolism, two important devices of expressing one’s opinion, become inappropriate for students of social and political science. In his famous satire Animal Farm , George Orwell used animals to represent political leaders like Stalin and Leon Trotsky. Do we go ahead and ban such books?
Apoorva Roshan,
Chandigarh
I totally agree with the views expressed by M.S.S. Pandian in his dissent note (“The textbooks should be used as they are,” July 4). Students, I am sure, are encouraged to think out of the box when they see cartoons. What is a matter of political or regional sensitivity to some need not be so for others. The cartoon of a poor man in rags peeping out of the “Massive Support” cup or “The cup that cheers,” for instance, has been termed “politically sensitive.” But I find that it reflects the emotions of hundreds of thousands of people reeling under poverty. It is apt and pro-poor. As Oscar Wilde said in The Picture of Dorian Gray , let us understand that “It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.”
Mrinalini,
Ramagundam
It was heartening to read the article. As a student of CBSE, I never had any doubts about the quality of NCERT textbooks. They are among the best and cater to the intellectual needs of not only school-goers. They are recommended for civil service aspirants. It is shocking to see the cartoon issue being politicised. I am thankful to Mr. Pandian for trying to restore the sanctity of the textbooks. Altering the content will spoil the intent with which they were conceptualised. The purpose of education cannot be fulfilled if the NCERT is not given the freedom to enlighten young minds by sparking their thought process.
C.M. Karthikaeyan,
Chennai
I am a plus-two teacher of political science in Malappuram, Kerala. The recommendation that some cartoons be deleted from textbooks is pathetic. Teaching without aids like illustrations is boring for teachers and students. Cartoons and pictures play an important role. More than enabling students to think critically, they help in transforming the classroom atmosphere and lead to the active participation of students.
M.P. Rafeeque,
Kuzhimanna
I disagree with the view that textbooks encourage students to read leading magazines to have a wider perspective of issues. Inculcating such a habit depends more on the faculty and methods of classroom teaching. Most teachers and school managements focus only on the ‘marks’ and ‘examination’ aspects of education. Once a lesson is taught, “key words” are highlighted and students asked to learn them and present them in the exams. Gone are the days when issues were debated, discussed and opinions expressed in classrooms.
A. Aparna,
Hyderabad
Political and social issues are subject to criticism and scrutiny. Opinions should be invited and respected with an open mind. Thought-provoking newspaper articles should be read out in classrooms and students asked to offer their opinions. Yet another suggestion is that teachers should teach students how to differentiate among different components of a newspaper — reports, editorials, articles, cartoons and even letters.
Janakan V. Balu,
Bangalore
It is painful that many scholars, intellectuals, and civil society members are pitching for the removal of the cartoons, failing to appreciate the long-term implications of such a step. The problem lies not with the cartoons per se but in our understanding of education. We perceive education as just a means to livelihood, while it actually stands for the overall development of a person. There is a strong disconnect between what is taught in the classroom and how society functions, often confusing students. This anomaly is what NCF 2005 sought to remove. No person with an open mind and commonsense will be hurt by the cartoons. Their removal would be a retrograde step.
Mozahidul Islam,
Aligarh
Democracy is built on the bedrock of freedom of speech and expression. Our leaders and administrators should demonstrate a statesman-like spirit with a catholicity of temper and genuine fondness and appreciation for humour. Textbooks are meant to sharpen the creativity and critical thinking of students rather than provide only information. Visual aids like cartoons trigger creativity and sense of humour.
Suman Mahapatra,
Bhubaneswar
I am reminded of the Vernacular Press Act. At that time, our colonial masters were unable to understand the languages and message the vernacular press published. Today, our Ministers are unable to understand the message conveyed by the innocent cartoons.
Mayank Prakash,
Ghaziabad
