Riyadh, April 30 (INP): Ramayan and Mahabharata studies have not been introduced in Saudi Arabia’s national curriculum as of now, Saudi journalists and intellectuals clarified after some of the unverified reports surfaced in the Indian media. On April 18, India’s East Coast Daily newspaper initially claimed that according to Saudi Arabia’s new Vision-2030, Hindu religious texts from Ramayana and Mahabharata have been introduced in Kingdom’s new curriculum for students. The media agency quoted Saudi national Nouf Almarwaai’s tweet where she shared screen-shots of her son’s online-exam, and claimed, “Saudi Arabia’s new #vision2030 & curriculum will help create coexistent, moderate & tolerant generation. Screenshots of my sons school exam today in Social Studies included concepts & history of Hinduism, Buddhism, Ramayana, Karma, Mahabharata &Dharma. I enjoyed helping him study”. The tweet received overwhelming response from the India’s Hindu diaspora, who applauded her, and Saudi Arabia’s new vision 2030. Indian media channels celebrated the claim and announced that Saudi Arabia has introduced Hindu religious texts in their national school curriculum. The news does not refer to any official source from Saudi Education Ministry or Saudi Media Ministry. The report was later clarified by the Saudis, that they respect and honor the Indian culture, but no such decision has taken place as of now where Kingdom’s national school curriculum has been amended. Saudi professor Omar Al-Sabiyee said that he has been teaching for the past 25 years, and all the subjects are taught in Arabic language only. Saudi school curriculum does not include social studies in English language, hence he stated that the questions belong to the Indian school. Independent Saudi political analyst, Omar Al-Ghamdi tweeted while addressing Almarwaai, “Your son is studying in an International Indian School in Saudi Arabia due to your family relations. These schools have been using the same curriculum for years before Vision2030, so it’s a big lie to link foreign curriculum we respect to our vision”. Saudi Business woman Najwa AlTuwaijri tweeted, “We all respect religions, but you lied and said that this is a curriculum in Saudi schools that is taught while it is a curriculum for private schools for the Indian community in Saudi Arabia! I do not know what is the purpose of linking the vision with your lie!” “Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has always supervised and approved curriculums of private and international schools. General knowledge about mythologies and epics like the Iliad and Odyssey of Homer (Greek mythology) or the Mahabharata and Ramayana (Indian mythology) has been taught in international and private schools for decades and no new changes to this effect have been made in line with Vision 2030 as claimed by Nouf”, Dr. Khan said.