Parents have expressed their disapproval of the regressive ideas conveyed in the essay, writing collective letters to schools to ensure that the book is not included in the syllabus or kept in libraries
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CBSE has released a statement slamming tweets and media reports that criticised the board for an essay from a book by a private publisher meant for school children that had a controversial essay defining who is a 'modern girl'.
The board clarified that it has not recommended any such book, adding, that "any reference to CBSE in the reports in totally incorrect".
"It is clarified that CBSE does not publish books and nor does it recommend books by any private publishers to the affiliated schools. Therefore, any reference to CBSE in this context is baseless," read the statement.
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The statement follows after tweets carrying pictures of an essay from a textbook called "Current School Essays and Letters" on a 'Modern Girl' went viral.
Here is the full statement:
The pictures of the essay, written by Kolkata-based author Purabi Chakraborty, were originally shared by Kolkata-based Abhik Hazra, who spotted the essay in his cousin’s textbook.
The essay read that a modern girl is "too selfish to think about others and cares only about clothes and cosmetics".
"She is more a self-centered creature than a loving daughter or sympathetic sister. She is eager to enjoy life fully and so she does not want to miss any party, cinema show, concert, fashion parades and such outdoor activities. She talks and makes friendship with boys freely and easily," the essay says.
It adds, "It is true that parents are partly responsible for the self-centered nature of their daughters. A girl child should be guided on how to behave at home."
Some parents in Bengaluru among scores others on the social media had also expressed their disapproval of the regressive ideas conveyed in the essay, writing collective letters to schools to ensure that the book is not included in the syllabus or kept in libraries.
“I would be shocked if my child’s school has this book even in their library for reference's sake,” said Ranjitha Srivatsa, administrator of one such mothers’ group, told The New Indian Express.
The essay has also been criticised on social media.Wow this is not parody. The definition of a "modern girl" in a school essay book, via @mtanmay from the wall of Abhik Hazra. Modern girls are apparently "self-centred creatures". https://t.co/6cNunsA4MEpic.twitter.com/HMnX4QTlrx
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) August 20, 2018
What a disgusting definition of modern girl! Students should unlearn this if already they have learned from the book. pic.twitter.com/MONJdSFbkh
— taslima nasreen (@taslimanasreen) August 21, 2018
My God! The writer fails to completely understand what a modern girl is capable of doing! Such narrow view of the women world. Pathetic. https://t.co/sYiGJcCrNy
— Rajesh Rajgor (@rajeshrajgor) August 22, 2018
Such an insightful article on ‘modern girl’. It’s so inspiring to see that women having any kind of ambition,wishes or in general a life makes them ‘self centred’. This is what we teach our kids&then wonder why are we so misogynistic as a society. pic.twitter.com/p0Ef8rH2qX
— Kamayani Vyas (@k4ms) August 20, 2018
I think that by using the word like "selfish, self-centered, not obedient" and the likes the author herself is presenting the so called "modern girl" in bad light. One needs to explain/elaborate it properly to the kids studying it.
— Kumar Abhishek (@abhishekAQ) August 23, 2018
The statement released by the CBSE says that the "Rule 15.1 (d) of the Affiliation-bye-laws of the Board clearly states that the school will
follow the syllabus on the basis of curriculum prescribed by NCERT/CBSE and textbooks published by NCERT or CBSE as far as practicable. It also states that the schools will exercise extreme care while selecting books of private publishers. The content must be scrutinized to preclude any objectionable content that hurts the feelings of any class, community, gender, religious group in society if prescribing books having such content, the school will have to take the responsibility of such content."
The statement while criticising the media reports over careless reportage informed that any claims regarding CBSE publications must be verified through the link http://cbseacademic.nic.in/publication_sqps.html available at Board’s official website www.cbseacademic.nic.in.
The story was updated today to include CBSE's statement.