Authors
Sabloo Thomas has worked as a special correspondent with the Deccan Chronicle from 2011 to December 2019. Post-Deccan Chronicle, he freelanced for various websites and worked in the capacity of a translator as well (English to Malayalam and Malayalam to English). He’s also worked with the New Indian Express as a reporter, senior reporter, and principal correspondent. He joined Express in 2001.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
Claim: The Kerala government has published a textbook with objectionable and communal content.
Fact: The controversial content was published by Chain of Peace International private schools and not the Kerala Government. Moreover, the textbooks were not in circulation now.
An image showing a collage of pictures of two chapters from a textbook carrying communal content is being shared claiming that the textbook was published by the Kerala government.
The viral photo was posted by several people including the verified X handle (formerly Twitter) of Mr Sinha (@MrSinha). The post says, “Muslim Aslam: Hygienic, we should buy sweets from his shop -Hindu Appan : Unhygienic, nobody should buy his sweets -Muslim Adil: Hygienic & has good habits -Hindu Abhimanyu: Unhygienic, never takes bath, smells bad. This is what the Kerala govt is teaching in their schools. This is how commies brainwash the little kids.”
Archived versions of similar posts can be seen here,here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
We started by conducting a reverse image search and we found that this post has been available online since at least 2020.
We also found that state Minister for General Education, V. Sivankutty posted on X ( formerly Twitter) that the Kerala Government’s Education Department did not publish the book. “This book is not published by the Kerala Government’s Education Department. Merely another endeavour to incite animosity towards the state. Those acquainted with us understand the camaraderie & unity among Keralites. No room for hatred – precisely why the communal agenda fails to take root here,” Sivankutty said in his post.
He also shared the Malayalam version of the clarification on his Facebook page.
All the textbooks of Kerala State Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, its textbooks in English, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil can be downloaded from the Kerala government’s ‘Samagra’ website.
Controversial text issued by a private school
We found a reply from a handle @avs_IND in Mr Sinha’s post claiming that the controversial Islamic orthodoxy text is from Chain of Peace International private schools and has not been issued by Kerala Government.
We looked up Peace Foundation Schools online and their website states that they are run by a charitable trust called Peace Educational & Charitable Trust based in Ernakulam.
On further research, we came across a report by Onmanorama dated October 8, 2016, about a case registered against the Peace International School at Thammanam in Ernakulam which is reportedly run by the Peace Educational Foundation for teaching objectionable content.
A report by Mathrubhumi published on January 4, 2018, highlighted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan ordering the closure of the Peace International School in Ernakulam which has been under the scanner for objectionable and non-secular content in the syllabus.
We spoke to P Ramdas of the New Indian Express in Kochi, who had been following the case related to the Peace International School. The school was closed down following the order from the office of the Chief Minister. However, later, the school was allowed to reopen following a favourable high court verdict, said Ramdas.
We also spoke to Ajay Kanth who was formerly with The New Indian Express and covered the cases related to the Peace International School. He said that the school though was closed down by the police, was given permission to reopen by the high court. The school was now functional, he added.
We contacted the office of V Sivankutty, Minister of Public Education to check whether these chapters are still being taught to school children in Kerala. The office informed us that a complaint has been filed with the police regarding the “fake propaganda”. They clarified that such a text book is not being taught in any schools in the state. The complaint to the DGP points out that this is another attempt to spread hatred against Kerala, said the office.
Also Read: Congress Did Not Field Candidates From Arunachal Fearing China? False Claim Goes Viral
Conclusion
Thus it is proved that the viral message Kerala state government published a textbook with ‘objectionable and communal content’ is false. The textbook, originally taught in Peace International schools, was old and is not in circulation now.
Result: False
Sources
X post by @avs_IND on April 9, 2024
X post by V Sivankutty on April 9,2024
Facebook post by V Sivankutty on April 9, 2024
Kerala Government’s ‘Samagra’ website
Report published by Onmanorama on October 8, 2016
Report published by Mathrubhumi on January 4, 2018
Telephone Conversation With General Education Minister’s office
Telephone Conversation with Journalist P Ramdas
Telephone Conversation with Journalist Ajay Kanth
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Authors
Sabloo Thomas has worked as a special correspondent with the Deccan Chronicle from 2011 to December 2019. Post-Deccan Chronicle, he freelanced for various websites and worked in the capacity of a translator as well (English to Malayalam and Malayalam to English). He’s also worked with the New Indian Express as a reporter, senior reporter, and principal correspondent. He joined Express in 2001.
Ruby leads editorial, operations and initiatives at Newschecker. In her former avatar at New Delhi Television (NDTV), India’s leading national news network, she was a news anchor, supervising producer and senior output editor. Her over a decade-long career encompasses ground-breaking reportage from conflict zones and reporting on terror incidents, election campaigns, and gender issues. Ruby is an Emmy-nominated producer and has handled both local and international assignments, including the coverage of Arab Spring in 2011, the US Presidential elections in 2016, and ground reportage on the Kashmir issue since 2009.
