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HighBeam Research

Title: Mona Vijaykar battles to getmisrepresentation of India removed from

textbooks

Date: August 1, 2003 Publication: India Abroad Author: Bhatt, Shakti

India Abroad

08-01-2003

Mona Vijaykar felt vindicated when she recently held the Network of

IndianParents in Classrooms' first meeting.

For many years, the Bay Area writer was distraught at the'misrepresentations' about India and Hindu culture in school textbooks,andthe 'narrow perspective' with which it was taught.

Vijaykar's first acquaintance with racial stereotyping in Americanclassrooms was in 1991, when her elder son Nikhil - then in kindergarten -brought home his assignment, to color the picture of an Indian woman.

"Imagine my shock," Vijaykar said, "when the Indian woman looked like across between an Arab and a Sri Lankan fisherwoman, with a bindi, a lungiand a Turkish veil. The school had been using this illustration for years."

Twelve years later, little has changed, says Vijaykar. Two years ago, shefound her younger son's 6th grade teacher spent eight weeks on Greekmythology, whereas the study of Ancient India merited four days.

Vijaykar, who has authored books on raising Indian-American children in

theUS, noticed a disturbing pattern as a result of the inadequateunderstanding of Indian culture. "A lot of children begin to feel lesscomfortable about their Indian heritage," she said, recalling the time oneof her sons refused to take Indian food to school because his friendscalled it 'weird' and 'yucky.'

This year, Vijaykar got clearance from her neighborhood school to provideaclassroom with a presentation on India. It was not easy as she had toconvince the superintendent she did not have a religious agenda.

"Unfortunately, my efforts to bring about some change in the way

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Hinduismwas taught coincided with political problems in India," Vijaykar, 46, said."Some of them looked at me like I was part of Hindu fundamentalistgroups."

It was only after she gave a detailed report on her presentation that itwas approved. The presentation received a hearty response, andconvincedthe writer it was time to become an activist.

Vijaykar called together a group of people from the Bay Area, includingcommunity activists, industrial philanthropists and politically connectedIndian-Americans June 29. One of the attendees was Deepka Lalwani, vicechair, Milpitas City Planning Commission.

"I knew of Mona because I had bought her book The Vee Family more than10years ago," Lalwani told India Abroad. "When I heard about what shewantsto do, I told her I will help her in every way I can to contact schoolboards and alert them to relevant concerns."

Lalwani said her experiences as an immigrant are reflective of problemsVijaykar wishes to address. "When I worked in Canada in a foreign movietheater, my manager once told me she thought India has a largepopulation

because there is no electricity there," Lalwani, two-term past-president,Milpitas Chamber of Commerce, said.

"She said when an artist has to play an Indian character, they paint him orher black. It struck me as so odd."

Even though both women's children will be out of school by the time theproject materializes, their effort is for children of other Indian parents,they said. The organization plans to create 'a master presentation' withthe help of experts and this, along with worksheets about Indian historyand culture, would be provided to schools in the Bay Area to incorporate in

their curriculum. When Vijaykar first attempted to interest Indian parentsin her Project, the response was more often than not unwelcoming. "Thereisa need within all of us to belong to the new community in our adoptedcountry," said Vijaykar. "The way to do that is not carrying your identityon your sleeve.

"When I began to talk openly about these issues, it was a little unnervingfor them. Indians are so accommodating that their attitude is 'If you don'tknow who we are, it is OK.' What they don't realize is that this [attitude]

hurts us."

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Vijaykar admits her idea is far from original. There are many people doingsimilar work, she said, adding her goal is bring them together and developa consolidated effort. The Bay Area's Islamic Network Group, she said,provides a good example for her group.

"They do a splendid job in bringing awareness to children."

She points out that due to the Network's efforts, children spend more thantwo and a half months studying Islam with material and speakers providedbythe group.

"We hope to eliminate myths and misrepresentations so that in the longrun,children of Indian heritage are better perceived and have greaterself-esteem. It is time for us to rock the boat."

Article copyright India Abroad Publications, Inc.

This material is published under license from the publisher throughProQuest Information and Learning Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Allinquiries regarding rights should be directed to ProQuest Information and

Learning Company.

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