Lewd jokes in mag for Guj primary schools

Monthly A State Govt Initiative Under Central Scheme

Bharat Yagnik TNN

Ahmedabad: This is a dirty joke played on the sensitivities of lakhs of children who go to government-run primary schools in Gujarat. ‘Puzzle Magic’, a monthly magazine which is circulated in 35,000 schools across the state under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, carries lewd jokes which would shock even adults.
The 50-page May 2012 issue, which has hit schools in the new academic session, has four pages of jokes which have caused a furore in academic circles. It is brought out by Golibar Publications, which is headed by editors Mohsin Golibar and Yunus Golibar, both well-known names in the field of school publications.

While the magazine has reached most target audiences, the Modi government is now scampering to recall all the copies as this has come at a time when the ‘Kanya Kelavni’ programme has just started to ensure the enrolment of girls in schools. Most IAS officers who have fanned out across the state in this annual exercise were at a loss trying to explain to teachers how such content could get into a publication brought out exclusively for the state government.
Apparently, the contract for the publication was awarded to Ahmedabad-based Amisha Printers by the state school education under the district primary education programme, which is funded by the Union ministry of human resources development. Amisha then awarded the sub-contract to Golibar Publications.
Editor Mohsin Golibar said this was only the second issue of ‘Puzzle Magic’. “It is a terrible mistake and we are withdrawing all the copies.” Asked how this has happened, he said, “I was away and had left finalization of the content to my staff who have goofed up.”
DPEP’s director Manoj Agarwal said the jokes are in extremely bad taste. “This is intolerable…we are cancelling the contract,” he said.
NOT A LAUGHING MATTER
Man to lover: “I would give Rs 5000 to kiss a beautiful woman like you” Lover: “Oh! My loss last night. Mahesh kissed me and paid nothing”
Wife to husband: “How much did you pay to have fun with Sheela last night?” Husband: “One hundred rupees” Wife: “Shameful! When her lover came to enjoy with me, he paid only fifty rupees”
A census official came to Champaben’s house and asked:
“You have sons who are 3 and 5 years old. How come, when your husband died 9 years back?” Champaben replied: “My husband may have died but I am alive”