Indian History lessons anti-British, says England's QCA

London, Dec 27 (UNI) A curriculum association here said new lessons in Indian history announced today are anti-British and expose teenagers to the sexually explicit Kama Sutra.

The lesson plans published today by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) - entitled 'How and why is the legacy of British rule in the Indian subcontinent interpreted in different ways?' - is supposed to take between 10 and 15 hours of the time taken to cover 20th century history.

The director of the History Curriculum Association, Chris McGovern says teachers will have to abandon other important events in the century if they follow the new unit about India's role in the British Empire and its struggle for independence.

Teachers are told to direct pupils to internet sites with links to material on the gender perspective of the history of India and 'Indian genders and sexualities'.

One link listed on this site takes internet users to a site run by Fordham University, the Jesuit University in New York, which has links to other sites containing the Kama Sutra, the ancient Indian text on sexual behaviour.

Mr McGovern says the references to the Kama Sutra and 'Indian genders' were part of a misguided attempt to encourage children to understand history from different viewpoints.

''It is well within the legal requirement to teach history through a gender perspective. The QCA says 'be cautious', but nevertheless, it is there, only one click away. The general tone of the unit is anti-British, with little about positive consequences of imperial rule,'' he said.

He also accuses the Government's curriculum advisers of a 'politically incorrect' interpretation of Britain's imperial past based on false claims about former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. He pointed out factual errors which portray Mr Churchill in a bad light. The unit states that 'Churchill's view of M K Gandhi as a 'half-naked fakir' can be contrasted with the popular acclaim Gandhi received'.

In fact, Mr Churchill said in 1931 that M K Gandhi was 'posing as a fakir' and that he strode 'half naked up the steps of the vice regal palace'.

The term 'fakir' was used derogatively at the time to denote a common street beggar who pretended to be a religious mystic by chanting holy names and scriptures.

''In effect, teachers are being encouraged to use made-up evidence which is very much in line with the approach of New History,'' said Mr McGovern. A widely-used school text book covers the British Empire through the made-up words of what the dead might say if they could come back to life, he says.

However, Ken Boston, the QCA's chief executive, says the unit is intended to help schools explore the impact of British rule in greater depth.

''Given the mix of nationalities in England, it is important to foster understanding through learning. Children need to learn about British history, but also need to improve their knowledge of the events that shaped the world we live in.

''Learning more about the recent history of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh can help children better understand the legacy of the British Empire, providing an important and valuable insight into the history of their own country,'' he said.

A QCA spokesman told The Telegraph that teachers were encouraged always to check resources before using them in class.

''The unit that we have published does not mention the Kama Sutra or any other sexual matters. It looks at the history of India. The unit does not denigrate any historical figures.'' Guidance from the QCA also adds that after 15 hours' teaching, pupils should be able to evaluate different interpretations of the Amritsar massacre and the contribution made by key individuals such as M K Gandhi.

The massacre was one of the most notorious incidents of Raj rule, when Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered troops to fire on unarmed civilians. Official reports put the toll at 379 dead and 1,200 injured.

The 13-page QCA guidance cautions that teachers ''should be aware that this unit explores issues and events that may evoke strong feelings in some pupils. Care should be taken to present the unit in a manner that is sensitive, objective and balanced.'' The document also says that web-based resources should be monitored carefully, as aspects of Indian history are 'produced with a heavy bias and may contain materials that could cause offence'.

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