Karnataka: Professor Arrested After Islamophobic Content in B.Ed Book Sparks Uproar

Bengaluru, 21 Oct 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Police in Karnataka have arrested a professor following a complaint by the Campus Front of India, a student group, alleging that a book he authored for Bachelor of Education course carried objectionable content about Islam and Muslims.

The book “Mowlya Darshana: The Essence of Value Education” by BR Ramachandraiah is being taught in various universities including Mangalore University. It allegedly describes Islam in a demeaning way which promotes war while the general public wants peace, harmony, and kindness.

A case under Section 295-A and 153 was registered on Monday at New Extension Police Station in Tumakuru district of the state. The FIR also names Hallati Lokesh, who is said to be publisher of the book.

Ramachandraiah teaches at Akshay College in the Ashok Nagar area of the district.

Photos of the pages carrying the objectionable content surfaced on social media sparked outrage with activists and education expats saying that such content can negatively influence budding teachers and in turn children they would be teaching.

The book accuses Islam of being “intolerant”, “desert originated” and “outdated” that “indoctrinates Muslims with false information”.

The complainant, Roshan Nawaz, a lawyer by profession and deputy president of CFI in the state, told Clarion India, “The contents of the book hurt our religious sentiments because it presented Islam as violent and disrespects Prophet Mohammad.”

“The author did it intentionally,” Nawaz alleged.

 Among those who criticised Ramachandraiah was educationist Niranjanaradhya VP who told Vartha Bharati that the author was targeting a particular community with an “ulterior motive”.

Popular Front of India also condemned the contents in the book and blamed the BJP government “for manipulating the education system by including Islamophobic content in the syllabus”.

Vartha Bharati reported that following outrage Ramachandraiah apologised for “mistake” and acknowledged that such content should not have been in the book but added he did not intend to spread negativity.

He also assured that the objectionable content would be removed from the new edition.