Burmese political situation to be taught in Indian schools

Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)

April 11, 2006

“What should be the policy of the government of India towards the military rulers of Myanmar?” Surprisingly, this question comes from a cartoon character in a textbook for ninth grade political science students in India.

The book, released by the Indian National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), is the first in India to encourage students to think about the political situation in Burma.

Dr Yugendra Yadav, NCERT’s chief advisor told Mizzima the book encouraged students to think critically about Burma’s political system.

“The text book does not give answers to this question. These are questions which are meant to be explored… arouse curiosity…and to enable [students] to think on their own,” Yadav said.

Indian students will learn more about Burmese politics as part of a chapter in the book titled ‘Democracy in the Contemporary World’, which Dr Yadav said was designed to instill the values of democracy in young Indians.

“We feel that there is no point giving the students only examples of democracy unless they know what democracy means. What it means to live under undemocratic conditions,” Yadav said.

“Democracy comes through struggle . . . is what we want them to learn.”

One page in the text book includes an illustration by Burmese artist Harn Lay, which depicts senior general Than Shwe holding a birthday cake with detained National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi encircled by candles.

The cartoon represents the ongoing detention of Aung San Suu Kyi at the hands of the military, with the cake meant as reference to her recent 60th birthday. 

“[The illustration] actually depicts the situation in Burma. It shows that… behind the sweet talk of the military regime lays a harsh imprisonment,” Yadav said.

The textbook is planned for use in all schools affiliated with India’s central board of education. Ten state education boards had also agreed to use text Yadav said.