According to DMK MP A Raja, Christianity was the first religion to advocate for education to be made available to ordinary people in this society.
DMK MP from Nilgiri, A Raja, who was the special guest at the 157th anniversary function of Kunnoor Anthoniyaar School, Nilgiri District, said: “When we talk about education in India, it becomes a popular topic in today’s political environment. Credits should be given to the British for making education available to even the ordinary people, when it had been denied for 3,000 years.”
He added “Schools founded by Christian organisations continue to teach about our history. Christianity was the first religion in the world to accept that common people in this society should have access to education. Students recited verses from the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, and the Quran. Students who spoke before me stated that all religions are equal. However, saying this does not imply that I am opposed to any religion.”
He further said, “Ambedkar said that if a person’s education is against the country and society, he is worse than an animal. Education and knowledge are for the advancement of mankind. I adore people but have no faith in God. If God is loving and compassionate toward others, then there must be such a God.”
The comments of DMK MP A Raja have sparked debate, with many questioning why the DMK MP should praise a religion in front of school students of various faiths. Several people criticised DMK MP A Raja for bringing communal politics into a school environment, and they wondered how a Hindu and Muslim student would react when he praised Christianity.
Netizens also lambasted A Raja for giving credit to the British for growth of education in India, especially on the day after Republic Day, when Indians wrote their own constitution after gaining independence from the British.
It should also be noted that the myth that only Brahmins were educated and that others were denied education for 3000 years has been debunked several times using historical data.
(With inputs from Dinamalar)
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