On 14th July, an order by the Uttarakhand government was passed directing all government schools in the state to mandate the recitation of Shrima Bhagavad Gita shlokas during the morning assemblies. This initiative is a part of an ambitious mission of amalgamation of traditional Indian knowledge with modern education to promote values such as self-discipline, leadership, and emotional balance among students.
The significance of Gita Shlokas in Schools
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2022, which advocates the integration of India's knowledge systems with modern education. It is expected to deepen the values and sense of culture in the students. The Bhagavad Gita, as per the directive of the government, gives rise to the human values, emotional stability, decision making and the leadership principles.
How Will it Work?
As per the order insured on Monday, each day one verse of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is to be recited during the morning assembly. The teachers must relate the meaning of the shloka and the scientific or philosophic significance behind it to the students so that they get the meaning in the context and some values of the shloka. The teachers each week will choose one of the Shloka, put it on the school board with translation and meaning and train the students to recite the Shloka throughout the week. The selected shloka shall be discussed in the classrooms at the end of the week and all the students will be given a chance to share any thoughts and views, which will encourage learning and participation.
Objectives and Expected Benefits
Objective |
Expected Benefits |
Skills Developed |
Leadership, decision-making, emotional balance, scientific thinking, value-based conduct. |
Educational Value |
Focus is on implementing values in daily student life. |
Inclusivity |
The order is in line with a secular perspective, focusing on universal values rather than religious instruction. |
Textbook Inclusion |
The government has asked NCERT to include the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana in the syllabus for over 17,000 government schools. |
What Did The Higher Authorities Say About This Move?
Dr. Mukul Kumar Sati, Director of Secondary Education said, “It should be ensured at every level that the teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and their scientific approach are used for character development, self-control, balanced life approach, personality growth, and to make students better citizens.” This statement indirectly creates a demand for better teachers in the state who, like ancient gurus, focus on value-teaching rather than a biased one.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered changes in state curricula to mix old scriptures and new curriculum and he expects textbooks in line with his vision by the next academic year.
Also, the education Minister, Dhan Singh Rawat, said that until the revised textbooks are in place, each student will keep reciting verses of both Gita and Ramayana in daily prayers as a wider curriculum upgrade.
Community Response
The initiative of the Uttarakhand Government schools has been welcomed by various community leaders and people with diverse backgrounds, who support the idea of such teachings creating unity and belonging among learners. Some teachers and members of the civil society have also come forward with their critical voices as concerns raised towards the constitutional principle of the secular education system and the inclusion of children of all faiths.
However, as per the directive, the move is said to be solely a value adding initiative and not a religious move. Indians are well aware of what the Shlokas in Gita are about; the shlokas only talk about human psychology, way of living, moral duties, and ideal lifestyle instead of imposing the mythical or religious perspective on hindu God worship. People who have actually read Gita with the help of an ideal guru (as emphasised in the Indian Knowledge system) are well aware of Gita being a human psychology and lifestyle text instead of some religious book.
The Effects That This Will Have on Students
Memorizing a shloka and talking about it will be part of the daily routine of all the students in all government schools. It is hoped that regular interaction with these philosophical verses will enable the development of confidence, concentration and ethical thinking. Also, students will have a first hand look at the classical literature and philosophical tradition of India in an action-oriented, value-based format.
Recording of the shloka is a part of the assemblies in schools and does not increase academic tasks. It is universal lessons in ethics and character rather than proselytizing, the emphasis being on learning. The pending NCERT integration so far amounts to expecting its text books incorporating Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana henceforth in the next academic session.
To the parents and students of Uttarakhand, this new move may imply increasing the significance of a value based education and cultural anchorage with their normal studies. Follow news of the school and formal curriculum changes as the policy is introduced to ensure a holistic learning process for all the students.