CA Textbooks: You made history a year ago on this day!

Namaste, 

Do you remember this day last year? On 9th November 2017, we together created history in how India and dharmic traditions will be taught in California textbooks. On this day California's State Board of Education rejected two hinduphobic textbook programs by a leading publisher. It was also for the first time that bias against Hindus in the textbooks was acknowledged by a Governmental agency. A lot of disparaging images and content about India and Hinduism were also removed from some other textbooks.

While some publishers still have an outdated narrative about India, the movement has shown that by working together persistently and diligently, we can bring about even a seemingly impossible change. These strides have been possible only because of the tireless efforts of hundreds of silent workers like you. We profusely thank and applaud your contribution and look forward to working together for this great cause.

Just to recap, here is the video from the protest at CDE Sacramento https://www.facebook.com/hefusa/videos/505650886465540

And here is a glimpse of what changed in the textbooks. https://www.facebook.com/pg/hefusa/posts

How was this achieved?

Didn’t it seem insurmountable a few years ago? Didn’t we all not wonder if Hindus would ever get justice? Here are a few things we did together to achieve this great reform.

1) Civic Engagement with the Department of Education and other agencies with persistence and patience spanning many years and even when things did not seem to work out.

2) Grass-roots awareness drives by community members that not only led to thousands of people participating in the movement but also to many Indian American teachers and community members becoming part of various review committees and contributing to reforms.

3) Community organizations like Hindu Education Foundation (HEF), Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Bay Area Vaishnav Parivar (BAVP), Silicon Andhra, Bharati Tamil Sangam, Jain Center of California, Art of Living (AOL), ISKCON, Hindupedia, major temples, and innumerable organizations came together in this mighty effort.

4) Alliances were firmed up with different communities including African Americans, Jews, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Islanders, and many other communities and inter-faith groups. Many public officials including Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and the (then) Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom came out in Hindu community's support.

5) A coalition of top academics provided academically sound edits and pointed out the problems in the textbooks.

6) Fringe hinduphobic groups who always tried to sabotage the process using misinformation and last-minute scare tactics were effectively countered through rigorous and timely responses. Community members like you courageously stood up to them. For the first time their desperate attempts, including letters by hinduphobic academics were rejected by the board.

Going further

While two Hinduphobic books have been rejected, bias against Hinduism still exists in some state-approved textbooks. In the coming days,  school districts will choose from the books adopted at the state level which they would use in the schools for the next ten years. Your proactive participation as a parent in getting the best of the available books for the children in your district is crucial.

Parents and community members are already making the difference in some school districts where the process has begun. 

Kindly fill the form here and receive information and on how to make a difference in your district. https://goo.gl/forms/5LiZxyg2gdHtGTT63

Also if you have a few hours a week and would like to volunteer, kindly send an email to coordinator@hindueducation.org.

Wishing you all a very Happy Diwali.

Regards

Hindu Education Foundation Team