Lucknow, July 21: A for Aamir Khan, B for Bachchan, C for Chameli, D for Duggu … and so on look perfect material for a great joke.
In fact, a Bollywood film uses this very concept to add hilarity to its plot and give the audience a good laugh.
But, what is happening in certain Uttar Pradesh schools is no joke. UP’s Rajya Sabha member Kalraj Mishra on Monday said in some English medium schools of the state, the Hindi varnamala (alphabets) is being taught using filmstars’ names.
He said Deep Mala, a book of Hindi alphabets by two teachers from a prominent school in Noida, has the Hindi letter ‘Hri’ expanded for students as Hrithik Roshan. The letter ‘Hri’—as learnt by numerous other students before—is for ‘Hrishi’ (a sage). Similarly, the book uses Aishwarya Rai to explain the pronunciation of the Hindi vowel ‘Ai’. He said the schools were trying to teach students absurd things in subjects such as Hindi and Science.
“Instead of teaching good things of life, these books are pushing children towards cinema. The schools which have prescribed these books have tailored excuses that NCERT books or other government publications were not available. I want a check on these books,” he said.
Mishra also pointed out mistakes in a science book prescribed in some schools. He said a book, by Mastermind Publication, states in its 2004-05 edition that Jagdish Chandra Bose was born on November 30, 1858. “But the 2008-09 edition of the same book says he was born on November 13, 1858,” he said. “Which date should a child learn? These books have been prescribed in many UP schools.”
The director of UP’s state basic education, Dinesh Chandra Kannaujia, said he had received a complaint regarding the matter. “We are aware of the problem and are trying to identify the schools which have prescribed the books. We are also identifying the writers so that appropriate action may be initiated against them,” he said.
“We don’t approve such teachings. It is certainly deplorable that children know the alphabets by names of Bollywood stars. The publishers and schools should be alert about the facts given in the books and correct any wrong information immediately,” Kannaujia added.
—Agencies