Factual position about Gita in syllabus

State Government has clarified on media reports about teaching of Gita in Madarsas. Following is the clarification

Apart from Gita, project works have also been assigned to include subjects of other religions in school books for making them inclusive. These includd life sketch of Paighambar Mohammad Sahib, incident of Karbala, Guru Nanak Dev, Gautam Buddha, Mahavir Swami, Christ, Gharib Nawaz of Ajmer. Lessons, poems and information on gift of Christmas, Bibi Fatima’s life sketch, Holi, Id, Deewali, Rakhi, Id-uz-Zuha, Onam, Christmas, Dussehra, Guru Parv, Mahavir Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti, Lohri, festivals are included in school books of various classes. Class XI book also includes lesson Bishop’s Candlestick. Lesson on Idgah is also included in these books. Christian Br. Deenbandhu Andrews’ Spirit of Service lesson has been included as an inspirational episode. Hakin Ibne Sina’s preference to knowledge over wealth has been included as an inspirational episode which also mentions Sufi sect. In another lesson, episode of child Abdul Qadir’s brave encounter with dacoits with the virtue of truthfulness has been included. The child is quoted saying “My mother had said whatever happens always tell truth. There is Allah’s mercy on people telling truth”.

In Urdu text-books, only 2 messages of Gita have been included. One is “Niyata: Kuroo Karm Twama:” and “Kartvyaprayanta. The lesson teaches school children not to bunk school to while away their time in sports only. Another lesson “Paraspara: Bhavyanta: Shreyah” gives the message “Come! Let us live in harmony”. This lesson is about blind and disabled persons. None of these lessons is of religious or communal nature. This does not harm any person’s religion, or propagates any religion.

The allegation that these lessons have been made compulsory due to vested interest automatically falls the classes in which these lessons have been included in Urdu books do not have provision to fail students on exam basis. Even then, if any student does not have interest in reading these lessons, they will be regarded as optional. The Government had adopted the same policy in case of Surya Namaskar.

Keeping useful aspects of Gita’s practical knowledge in view, it is wrong to see lessons included in school text-books from religious or communal angle. They are basically moral teachings, which are called teachings of emotional maturity. The action has been ensured in keeping with this spirit.

On a petition by Catholic Bishop Council, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has held that Gita is basically a book of Indian philosophy and not of Inidian religion.

Gita-based material’s inclusion in text-books is nothing new. In year 2011-12, Gita-based material has been included in text-books for class 1 to XII. These books are being taught not only in government schools, but also in adided Madarsas for last 2 years about which no objection has come to the fore.

Abovementioned material has not been included as a religious material, but in the form of reading material, tales, inspirational episodes, autobiography, drama, essay etc. based on practical and moral values. Portions of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Sant Vinoba Bhave’s articles have also been included as reading material.

In the light of above-mentioned facts, it will be totally misleading and baseless to say that any lesson has been included in syllabus due to election or religious considerations.