Gita Abhiyan to inculcate ‘human values’

13 districts have been covered under the programme
One teacher from each school attend workshop
Bangalore/Chitradurga: A religious organisation is on a mission to spread “humanitarian values” by teaching Bhagavad Gita to schoolchildren across the State. The Education Department, while not acknowledging this as one of its own programmes, is nevertheless playing an active role in ensuring that there are no encumbrances on the way.

Sri Sonda Swarnavalli Mahasamsthanam, near Sirsi, is holding Sri Bhagavad Gita Abhiyan in all districts of Karnataka in a phased manner. While 13 districts have been covered under it, the programme is currently going on in nine districts, including Chitradurga, Davangere and Dakshina Kannada.

What is interesting is the circular on this programme sent from the office of the Director of Public Instruction, Secondary Education (dated October 3, 2009) to all Deputy Directors of Public Instruction for “necessary action.”

“It states that headmasters in secondary schools, high schools and Sanskrit schools can permit their students as well as teachers to participate in this eight-day programme “in a manner that does not affect the academic interests of students.”

The circular cites two letters — one from the Mahasamthanam and another from the Personal Secretary to the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education as references.

A teacher who spoke to The Hindu on condition of anonymity said that one teacher from each school had attended a day-long workshop prior to the start of the abhiyan. “I expect it to be treated as work On Official Duty,” he said.

Nagaraj Bhat, district secretary of the ongoing abhiyan in Chitradurga, said that participation in the abhiyan was “purely voluntary” and they “expect no support from the Government.” He said that secondary school students would be taught Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita by rote, while high school students would be taught Chapter 15.

Mr. Bhat said: “There is no politics and religion involved in this. We are not teaching Bhagavad Gita as a religious text, but as a text that can help in personality development and inculcating good values.” He added that people of all communities had participated in the abhiyan.

Source : THE HINDU