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Zostrianos
22nd April 2012, 00:14
A good example of the growing nefarious influence of Christianity in Indian society. Apparently this 'secular' school is ok when Christian prayers are recited in classes :thumbdown:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3025885.ece

A chemistry teacher of SBOA School and Junior College in Anna Nagar West was suspended last week for ‘manhandling and misbehaviour', but the teacher claimed that she was punished for reciting a Hindu prayer to students of Class XII .
On March 13, as the students were gearing up for their examination, teachers were about to recite their routine prayer. “Since the usual group of teachers pray before every examination, I volunteered this time. I said a prayer invoking the blessings of Hindu, Christian and Muslim Gods,” said the teacher, P. Abirami.
Even as Ms. Abirami was reciting the prayer, some of the other teachers allegedly turned off the microphone. “If they had an issue with my prayer, they could have called me aside and spoken to me rather than behaving rudely in front of students,” she said. “I did not give up but continued to say the prayers even more fervently,” she added.
Students on Wednesday said it was unusual for teachers to behave in this way. “Usually a Christian prayer is said before we write examinations. But last week a teacher said some Hindu mantras and the other teachers tried to stop her by turning off the microphone,” said a student.
Principal P. C. Selvarani, said that disciplinary action was taken against the teacher for behaving in an inappropriate manner . “The teacher does not handle Class XII and was on paper-correction duty that day. In spite of this, she came to up the dais, grabbed the mike and started speaking,” she said. “It was against the code of conduct. She just intervened.,” she said.
This sparked off protests by the BJP, VHP and the Hindu Munnani. Their activists staged a protest outside the school on Wednesday, following which 60 people were arrested and later released.

NewLeft
22nd April 2012, 00:27
Considering how this is from "The Hindu.."

Zostrianos
22nd April 2012, 00:29
Considering how this is from "The Hindu.."

Other sites also reported on the story:
http://www.asianage.com/chennai/40-hindu-activists-stage-demo-held-059
http://www.chakranews.com/teacher-at-a-school-in-trouble-after-reciting-a-hindu-chant/2647

NewLeft
22nd April 2012, 00:37
I mean this is a pretty small incident if you ask me, I can't see how this is proof of a growing "nefarious influence of Christianity" in India. This story has been blown up, they're trying to create religious tensions.

Zostrianos
22nd April 2012, 00:40
If you look at the news in India, this is one of many incidents where Christians are creating religious division:
http://web.archive.org/web/20110426064024/http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=NEWS

NewLeft
22nd April 2012, 00:44
If you look at the news in India, this is one of many incidents where Christians are creating religious division:
http://web.archive.org/web/20110426064024/http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=NEWS
Have you read "The God Market"? I think the religious tensions are a reaction to the increasing Hindu influence on India.

hatzel
22nd April 2012, 00:48
the increasing Hindu influence on India.

Hindus have always been a pretty big deal there, you know...I mean I know what you're maybe trying to say, but...c'mon...

NewLeft
22nd April 2012, 00:52
Hindus have always been a pretty big deal there, you know...I mean I know what you're maybe trying to say, but...c'mon...
As opposed to secularization..etc.

Zostrianos
22nd April 2012, 00:53
No, but I've looked quite a bit into religious conflicts in India, and interestingly enough it's usually Christians or Muslims who provoke trouble with Hindus (vandalizing temples, slaughtering cows near them, publicly insulting Hindu deities, etc.) The growing Hindu extremism is in part a reaction to aggression by Christian missionaries (funded by Amurika) and rabble rousers who are bent on turning India into a Christian country. Another problem is that the Indian governement, in its insistence on appearing to be a secular country, actually discriminates against Hinduism in favour of religious minorities (i.e. Christianity and Islam); see for instance: http://www.chakranews.com/tamil-nadu-unfairly-targets-hindu-temples-while-giving-other-religions-full-freedom/1568

Tim Cornelis
22nd April 2012, 00:56
Considering how this is from "The Hindu.."

The Hindu refers to the population of Hindustan (India), I think, not the religion. The Hindu is actually a moderately progressive, left-wing newspaper.

Take this for example. The province of West Bengal which was under 'communist' rule for 34 years used an excessive amount of time teaching Marx and Engels, which is now scaled back to justifiable proportions.

The Hindu reports: Marx, Engels to go from West Bengal history textbooks (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3284870.ece)


This story has been blown up, they're trying to create religious tensions.

I don't see why they would do that. It's a newsworthy item, imo.

NewLeft
22nd April 2012, 01:00
The Hindu refers to the population of Hindustan (India), I think, not the religion. The Hindu is actually a moderately progressive, left-wing newspaper.
I meant to point out that it is a larger newspaper.


No, but I've looked quite a bit into religious conflicts in India, and interestingly enough it's usually Christians or Muslims who provoke trouble with Hindus (vandalizing temples, slaughtering cows near them, publicly insulting Hindu deities, etc.) The growing Hindu extremism is in part a reaction to aggression by Christian missionaries (funded by Amurika) and rabble rousers who are bent on turning India into a Christian country. Another problem is that the Indian governement, in its insistence on appearing to be a secular country, actually discriminates against Hinduism in favour of religious minorities (i.e. Christianity and Islam); see for instance: http://www.chakranews.com/tamil-nadu-unfairly-targets-hindu-temples-while-giving-other-religions-full-freedom/1568
I don't deny what you're saying, but we can't downplay the reactionary role of Hindu nationalism.. I could easily bring up cases of violence against Christians or Muslims. I mean the history of India is one of conquest..