Wednesday, November 3, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Temple to teach English to untouchables

 

http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article734800.ece/Temple-to-teach-English-to-untouchables

Temple to teach English to untouchables

Oct 31, 2010 12:00 AM | By Sapa-DPA

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A temple to "Goddess English" is being built in a village in India's
Uttar Pradesh state to encourage the local Dalit community to learn
English.
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Current Font Size: The Dalits, or former untouchables, are below the
lowest rung of the Hindu caste system. Despite decades of affirmative
action, much of the community is still poor and employed to do menial
tasks.

The temple in Banka village of Lakhimpur Kheri district would teach
English to Dalits and help them to progress, PTI news agency quoted as
saying Chandra Bhan Prasad, who came up with the idea.

The temple is planned as a single-storey structure with a facade of
black granite. Inside, there would be an idol in the shape of a
computer wearing a gown and hat, holding a pen and a copy of the
Indian Constitution.

Engravings of symbols and formulae of physics, chemistry, mathematics
and English sayings are planned for the walls.

Construction of the temple began in April and is due to be completed
by November, Prasad said. A sizeable number of Dalits live in Banka
and surrounding areas.

"This temple would help encourage them to learn the language which has
become essential for one's growth, as in 20 years' time no decent job
would be available without a knowledge of English," he said.

The temple is located on the site of a Dalit education centre and will
be run by a trust, said Prasad.

An estimated 350 million of India's population of more than one
billion speak English, which is the preferred language of the elite
and is widely seen as a passport to jobs and a better life. -

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