History is now non-subject for students: - When I had the opportunity to talk about this subject with Dr. KA PA Aravanan, the ex-v.c of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University when he came here for our centenary celebrations, he regretted that History subject meant only for passing out graduation -
But the possible factor is being developed in our country in another way of history reading - that is updating general knowledge through various methods of Quiz, etc. and in this media, any people irrespective of their basic qualification, had to come the arena with proper knowledge to face the stiff competition.
School text books (belong to any state government) are not helpful for them but a costly GK books from rich delhi publishers gives them the guidence by giving eloborate details on our ancient history. This is not a joke, I myself surprised to find a detailed version of big temple from one such book my daughter was going through.
But there are always difference between school text books reading and taking a immediate knowledge source for competitive exams. Surely, as SPS pointed out, text books gives immense benefits of deeper knowledge of historical incidents for long time where as these costly books satisfy us for immediate benefits. After passing out competitive exams, the next day the student will surely forget what he has written about big temple.
The political and present educational system should come forward to change this type of knowledge phobia. Even now so many people (elders too) talk deeply about shakesphere and other English and American based peots but when it comes to our own Bharati or Kamban they just escape. Dhivakar