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Sep-24-2008
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Union Minister for Human Resource Development, has taken a sudden decision to change the beautiful LOGO of Kendriya Vidyalayas in India. The original LOGO, which depicted the rising sun and the lotus, the National Flower of India, was approved sometime in November 1962 (not during the days of Sangh Pariwar but during the days of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru) and remained in force till the 79th meeting of the Board of Governors of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) which was held in New Delhi on the 26th of June 2008. I have seen the minutes of this meeting. Under Item No.3 "RATIFICATION OF DECISIONS TAKEN BY CHAIRMAN OF KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA SANGATHAN", in Item H the decision of the Board has been recorded "The Board ratified the changed logo as approved by the Chairman, KVS". From a reading of the minutes of the KVS Board of Governors meeting, it is not clear where the idea of change in emblem originated and what were the inadequacies of the previous emblem. Nor is the new emblem explained in the minutes.
It is understood that the decision in regard to changing the established logo of KVS and Kendriya Vidyalaya"s was taken by Arjun Singh, the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, at his own level. What is shameful to note is that the Board of Governors of KVS just collapsed like a pack of cards and succumbed and accepted the proposal of the Union Minister for HRD Arjun Singh, at the meeting of KVS. No enlightened member of the public can see from the minutes of this meeting as to what were the factors which weighed with Arjun Singh to take his solo decision for changing the logo of Kendriya Vidyalayas which had lasted for 46 years. Nor is it clear as to what were the imperative and compelling public educational reasons or factors which counted with the Board of Governors of KVS when they took their decision to just ratify the "mighty" decision of Arjun Singh. What kind of national emergency or such vital national concerns, impelled Arjun Singh to take decision to change the Logo of Kendriya Vidyalayas and KVS? Did any noted educationist or any responsible member of the public or any Member of Parliament give any representation in writing to Arjun Singh or his Ministry, giving proper public reasons, against the continuance or continued use of the original logo which lasted from 1962 till 26th of June 2008?
In my view, after taking direct political instructions from Sonia Gandhi and also keeping in view the Parliamentary Elections to be held in 2009, Arjun Singh has cleverly removed the rising sun and the lotus flower which were there in the original logo from the newly approved LOGO. Instead multiple crescents (symbols of Islam) and two stars and two crosses (symbols of Christianity) have been included in the LOGO. To hide this simple fact, these religious symbols of Islam and Christianity have been super imposed on a globe. The HRD Ministry is giving a vague explanation for the new logo by saying that it will reflect a "broader reflection of the national ethos and advances in science and technology".
This new initiative only reminds of the recent attempts to Evangelize India by minting the Christian Cross on 2 Re and 1 Re. coins of India. Immediately there were massive public protests against the figure of Christian Cross on those coins. At that time an equally vague and untenable explanation was given by the Reserve Bank of India by saying that "the symbol which looked like the Christian Cross were meant to show four heads sharing a common body." Later the Government of India gradually removed these coins showing Christian Cross from circulation. Having failed to initiate the process of evangelization through the coinage front, the UPA is using Arjun Singh as its executive arm to open a new front for the same process through Kendriya Vidyalays.
The rising sun and the Lotus have been the leading symbols of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma from the dawn of history. Removing these symbols is a direct attack on the Soul of our Nation and Hindu Heritage. I view this recent change of logo of Kendriya Vidyalayas as one more attempt to "de-saffronize" India through a state sponsored education programme. Soon after taking over as the Human Resource Minister, Arjun Singh said the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) is likely to finalise the curricula for CBSE after August 2004. He told the national press that his Ministry would "de-saffronise" the curricula and great care will be taken to see that no one would interfere with the project and that the entire exercise is carried out by academicians.
Murli Manohar Joshi, has said "There is nothing scientific or Indian in the emblem that has been newly created. The previous emblem in fact reflected the Indian ethos. They have no idea of the importance of lotus, which was used as a carrier of struggle against the foreign rule and finds place in all architecture also in the Parliament."
Lotus is a symbol of 1857 War of Independence and we always associate the sun with progress, innovation, spiritual endeavour and it is unfortunate that the Government of India is trying to create a sense of alienation in young minds by trying to promote imported concepts. This shows the ignorance and a very degenerated state of mind of the UPA Government. It is a reflection of ignorance of Indian culture and history"
The main opposition Party the BJP has alleged that the Blooming Lotus Flower which was there in the original logo has been removed from the new logo only because lotus happens to be the symbol of the BJP party. On this ground the BJP has described the move of Arjun Singh and his Ministry as "irrational and unwarranted".
The images of Old and New logos can be viewed here
The original logo of Kendriya Vidyalaya, which was in use from 1963 to June 2008, can be seen on the left (in the link above). The new logo can be seen in the centre (in the link above). We can see that it has been done rather cleverly, and becomes evident if you enlarge this new logo. What appear to be the shoulders of the two figures in the new logo are in a lighter blue and are clearly crescent moons. The crescent moons are repeated in the lighter colour as the lower portion of the heads.
In the placement of the motifs, there is a distinct resemblance to the pattern of Islamic crescent and star (as in the Pak flag), especially in the case of the larger figure. And what appear to be ear-rings are, of course, "Greek crosses" used in early Christianity (Cross)
The rising sun of the old logo has been replaced by a setting sun. In Christianity, the setting sun is a symbol of Death. Quite obviously the setting sun symbolizes the death of the past (the original lotus has been eliminated totally) with the open Book superimposed on it to symbolize the future - the Book looks exactly like a lectern Bible.
Thus the UPA Government have taken upon themselves the uncalled for responsibility of functioning as an Agent for the propagation of Islam and Christianity in India through school education.
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