3 ms·

This sounds like perfect example. The story isn't 100% false but it probably needs some context. I've actually heard the oven story before. Its an absurd (and

This sounds like perfect example. The story isn't 100% false but it probably needs some context. I've actually heard the oven story before. Its an absurd (and very racist) aphorism, but I think calling it a "lesson" from a textbook would be a stretch. What likely happened was that the school selected anthologies that kids could read to develop their reading skills. It probably included that absurd story. I think the American equivalent would be if a 2nd grade reading book included an old fairy tale with some outdated racist undertones (ie Zwarte Piet), and then the media ran with "American textbooks claim a black elf will kidnap children if they misbehave". PS. I'll need to check of the textbook story.

iamshs 6y ago
The books are written by Dinanath Batra, a well known history revisionist and Hindu supremacist. Let's not try to cover them up as "absurd aphorisms", these books are targeted at children and their intended purpose exactly is to show India and Indian civilization as a pinnacle during ancient times.
- pratik661 6y ago
  The context behind the specific passage referred to in the show (about the races baked in the oven) is that it is a conversational exchange (banter, if you will) between an Indian and a Briton. I believe the protagonist of that passage was "throwing shade" at the Briton after he makes a haughty statement. This entire exchange sounds ridiculously stupid and implausible to us now. However, in the 1940s (I think thats when the protagonist of the passage is from), casual racism towards Indians made that a plausible situation. I think this aphorism dates back to the 1930s/40s as a standard reply to casual racism from Europeans. Its obviously outdated (and racist) in today's context. However to claim that this is a "lesson taught in Indian schools" is a mischaracterization.

iamshs 6y ago

The books are written by Dinanath Batra, a well known history revisionist and Hindu supremacist. Let's not try to cover them up as "absurd aphorisms", these books are targeted at children and their intended purpose exactly is to show India and Indian civilization as a pinnacle during ancient times.

pratik661 6y ago
The context behind the specific passage referred to in the show (about the races baked in the oven) is that it is a conversational exchange (banter, if you will) between an Indian and a Briton. I believe the protagonist of that passage was "throwing shade" at the Briton after he makes a haughty statement. This entire exchange sounds ridiculously stupid and implausible to us now. However, in the 1940s (I think thats when the protagonist of the passage is from), casual racism towards Indians made that a plausible situation. I think this aphorism dates back to the 1930s/40s as a standard reply to casual racism from Europeans. Its obviously outdated (and racist) in today's context. However to claim that this is a "lesson taught in Indian schools" is a mischaracterization.