frogfish Posted June 17, 2006 #1 Share Posted June 17, 2006 Humpty Dumpty ruled 'too Western' Indian nursery rhymes will replace English ones It's goodbye to Baa Baa Black Sheep and Humpty Dumpty for children in primary schools in a central Indian state. The Madhya Pradesh government has banned the teaching of English nursery rhymes in primary schools to "reduce Western influence" on children. Indian rhymes will now replace their popular English counterparts. "There is no need for English rhymes when there are Indian rhymes to infuse patriotism in children," says state education minister Narrotam Mishra. They were melodious rhymes and children love to recite them as much as they love to recite Indian rhymes School teacher Renu He has asked government primary schools from now on to teach Indian rhymes and tales from the life of Ahilya Bai, the legendary ruler credited with building a number of leading temples in India. "We want our children to have value education in local colour," Mr Mishra was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper. 'Churlish' Many teachers and parents say they are unhappy with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-run state government's move. Learning Humpty Dumpty is seen as unpatriotic "They were melodious rhymes and children love to recite them as much as they love to recite Indian rhymes," Renu, a school teacher, told the BBC. "Seeing everything in the light of native and foreign, ours and theirs, is not always good," added a parent. The BBC's Faisal Mohammad Ali in Bhopal says the decision to drop English rhymes is being seen as part of the BJP's efforts to "nationalise" education and press for Hindu thoughts and values in the syllabus. Leading academician Zamiruddin told the Hindustan Times that the decision was "churlish and thoughtless" unless the government replaced the rhymes with equally popular and easy-to-learn Indian ones. Private schools are unaffected by the move - and of course nobody can stop the children reciting English rhymes away from state school classrooms, our correspondent says. 'Controversial' English nursery rhymes have been the subject of many controversies around the world in recent years. In 2000, education chiefs at Birmingham City Council in the UK published guidelines warning that the rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep should not be taught in schools because it was "racially offensive". The guidelines were dropped after black parents condemned the advice as ridiculous. Three years ago, tongue-in-cheek Canadian researchers found that some nursery rhymes send dangerously inaccurate messages to young listeners. They were concerned that characters in popular rhymes suffer major injuries without receiving proper treatment. The characters include Humpty Dumpty, who had a great fall, and Jack and Jill, who tumbled down a hill. A similar study by British doctors found nursery rhymes expose children to far more violent incidents than an average evening watching TV Link ---------------- That is good news as India has their own grand and noble literature. Western influence has 'modified' our lives a little too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StalingradK Posted June 18, 2006 #2 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Its good to preserve your own culture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__Kratos__ Posted June 18, 2006 #3 Share Posted June 18, 2006 That is good news as India has their own grand and noble literature. Western influence has 'modified' our lives a little too much. Oh? Country: United States Gender: Male Maybe you shouldn't be in the US then? Speaking of all this horrid influence with Humpty Dumpty... Most Americans would probably be surprised to learn that India is, by all accounts, the most pro-American country in the world. The Pew Global Attitudes Survey, released in June 2005, asked people in 16 countries whether they had a favorable impression of the United States. A stunning 71 percent of Indians said yes. Only Americans had a more favorable view of America (83 percent). The numbers are somewhat lower in other surveys, but the basic finding remains true: Indians are extremely comfortable with, and well disposed toward, America. Source Guess our western influence isn't that bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogfish Posted June 18, 2006 Author #4 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Maybe you shouldn't be in the US then LOL, just here for the education and benefits. I don't speak english in my home. I have the thickest accent you'll ever hear. I still preserve my heritage. Guess our western influence isn't that bad... I am not saying its bad, but it's taking some importance of India's own great heritage. Too much of a good thing. Its good to preserve your own culture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaoszerg Posted June 18, 2006 #5 Share Posted June 18, 2006 (edited) We have silly things like that over here in the uk. Some people who were not born here complain about our ryhmes or the cross being shown in schools or bibles being in hospitals and our own flags being shown. I am not racist but if someone who is not born here has a problem with these things over here they should really just shut up or put up. But it is understandable in there own country they should have there own nursery ryhms and other things that inspire there own children and people. Edited June 18, 2006 by chaoszerg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronGhost Posted June 18, 2006 #6 Share Posted June 18, 2006 When I think of the many friends I have who have hailed from the great continent of India -- Dilip, Taki, Jawal -- and the great conversations we have had, and the insights I obtained by listening to them --I can only think we Americans have a lot to learn from them, and they from us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shikon1 Posted June 18, 2006 #7 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Thats true we can always learn from other cultures, I dont see why humpty dumpty is too western though, I mean its an egg that falls off a wall , ehh India is a cool country and it shouldnt matter what rymes they choose to teach. I'm all for this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor Posted June 18, 2006 #8 Share Posted June 18, 2006 "There is no need for English rhymes when there are Indian rhymes to infuse patriotism in children," says state education minister Narrotam Mishra. Yet while in England these rhymes are being removed for 'fear of upsetting people of other cultures'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlDrippy34 Posted June 18, 2006 #9 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Indian food>>>all other foreign foods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogfish Posted June 18, 2006 Author #10 Share Posted June 18, 2006 Thats true we can always learn from other cultures, I dont see why humpty dumpty is too western though, I mean its an egg that falls off a wall , ehh India is a cool country and it shouldnt matter what rymes they choose to teach. I'm all for this RX7 pointed it out, it's because India has their own great literature. We want more emphasis on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shikon1 Posted June 18, 2006 #11 Share Posted June 18, 2006 More power to india then, they have a great culture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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