Agency report
 
Durban, Nov 27: A Hindu organisation in South Africa has urged the government to withdraw a textbook that allegedly contains "derogatory and offensive" references to the community.

South African Hindu Dharma Sabha has complained that "The English Grade 11 (Learners Book)" by two local authors contains references to Hinduism that are not reflective of the religion.

Its president Ram Maharaj has written to Education Minister Naledi Pandor asking her to withdraw the book until the offending chapter is deleted.

The chapter, objected to by the outfit, discusses Hinduism and the caste system.

The Dharma Sabha wrote to the publisher, Macmillan South Africa, asking it to remove the offending chapter.

The publishers have responded to the complaints saying that they would delete the passage, objected to by the community, from all future editions.

A company spokesman said that the offending passage will be deleted from the book in future editions.