The following words are from the Botany Textbook of First Year of Higher Secondary of Tamil Nadu state board (Standard Eleven in Indian System of Schooling). The textbooks are released by the government. The very first words from the textbook written by Dr A Jaffar Hussain (Chairperson, Text Book Writing Committee) are exactly quoted below.
We are passing through an “Era of Biology”. Words like “Biotechnology’,'Bioremediation”, “Biochips”, “Biomineralization”, “Bioinformatics” etc. have become familiar even with “common man”. Certainly there is a new unusual never-before tried approach to address and solve many problems associated with modern life and to enhance the quality and standard of living by application of modern tools of Biology; particularly the Genetically Modified Foods (GM Foods) and other GM Products have revolutionized our Life.
All I could manage after reading this was : WTF ?
We are preparing the young generation by brainwashing them into thinking that everything about modern life and new technologies are good and better in life. We are looking at a situation where these students are going to demand GM Foods in their table just because they assume it is going to “revolutionise” their life.
Online Version of the textbook is available here (Page 3)
September 10th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I agree.. This is a little too much.
October 30th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
See, the point you are trying to make is, we all should not be blindfolded about modern era. That’s agreed but along with, you should be capable enough to visualize the future period. The time is ticking or running out and everyone feels the lack of it. In that case, the only option left with the people is ready made food products, or which you are calling “GM” foods. Because noone has the courtesy to be that kind of health consious and not to forget for sure, the presence of these products can be felt in your nearby, even in the present day. Definitely, the way, this thing is being told in the book is inappropriate but as a matter of fact, truth too.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Well said! Could not agree more. I wonder if they really understand what they are doing. The are altering the way a kid would think. Our future generation would become enemies to environment leading to the demise of the entire species’ because of no fault of their own.
December 31st, 2009 at 9:30 am
@rahul : the objective is not to be blindfolded, but to look ahead with a long term view. Just because the humans are not health conscious and we need everything that suits our need and we forget the long term effects, we have in this delicate environment. Sometimes, technology is not the answer for everything. We need to get rid of the prejudice that technology is the best way to go about things.
@priya : There will be a time when everybody realises that humans cannot do whatever they want and get away with it.. But I just hope that it’s not too late that we had crossed the point of no return.