India is a land of different cultures and religions. “Unity in diversity,” these are not just words, but something highly applicable to our country. Explaining the same to the future generation through the means of reading and visualising is significant in the broader prospect of education. In the classroom context, textbooks in general and language textbooks, in particular, are significant sources to acquaint students with their own cultures as well as that of the others. But are we doing it right? A recent tweet is going viral on social media questioning that method. It includes a textbook that shows the representation of different cultures of India. Twitterati claims the depiction is all wrong. From potbellied pandits to Kannada Christians, social media users take a potshot on the textbook representation of different cultures of India. Are You a Bad Girl if You Have Breasts and Eat Too Much or Too Less? This Viral Image of Random Textbook Is Outrageous and Twitterati Can’t Keep Calm. 

Twitter user @spicy_words uploaded a picture of a school textbook specifically highlighting how native Kannada people were represented. “So this is how a native Kannada people look in Karnataka. This is what kids are taught! It's appalling!” reads the tweet.

Here's the Viral Tweet:

Soon the tweet went viral, and users pointed out not only the Kannadigas, but all the other cultures’ portrayals that were wrong and stereotyped. For instance, all the men in different cultures were shown as potbellied pandits. Again, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Kannada ladies were not wearing bindis (a coloured dot worn at the centre of the forehead majorly by Hindus and Jains in India). And the representation of Kashmiri is utter dismay. Twitterati pointed out how this textbook’s description of different Indian cultures was wrong and misguides school students.

Check Reactions!

Potbellied Pandits!

Cultural Representation Gone Wrong!

Not to Ignore!

Did Someone Notice That?

People Want to Get It Fixed!

It was not immediately clear as to which state or central boards or which subject the chapter was pertaining to. But the viral tweet sure sparked a discussion! The internet is clearly disappointed with the representation of different cultures of India in the above school textbook.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 25, 2020 11:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).