Ostensibly geared towards connecting students with “India’s rich diverse and ancient culture”, the Gujarat government on December 22, launched a supplementary textbook on the Bhagwad Gita for Classes 6 to 8. The state government further added that Bhagavad Gita content for Classes 9 to 12 is in the process of completion and will be included in the Gujarati language textbook.
On Friday, part 1 (for classes 6 to 8) of the textbook was formally released in Gandhinagar while part 2 (for Classes 9 and 10) and part 3 (for Classes 11 and 12) is under the process of finalization, officials said. The decision has been widely reported in the media with The Times of India, Decccan Herald and several other newspapers publishing the report.
Top sources in the government said that students will not be graded for their knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita but “will just be assessed without marks.”
The decision to introduce Bhagavad Gita in schools was taken under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 drafted by the Centre, minister of state for education Praful Pansheriya said. “The state education department has taken a decision under NEP to include the spiritual principles and values embodied in ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ as a supplementary textbook in the curriculum of Classes 6 to 8,” the minister said in a post on X.
Pansheriya added, “The students will feel proud and connected to the rich, diverse, ancient culture and knowledge systems and traditions of India through the teachings of ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ which will instill moral values in them.”
The textbook was therefore launched on the occasion of Gita Jayanti, a Hindu observance marking the day the Bhagavad Gita conversation took place between Arjuna, a Pandava warrior prince, and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Aaj Tak and the controversial anchor, Sudhir Chaudhary ran a provocative programme on the occasion counter-posing Gita Jayanti with Christmas! (Gita Jayanti पर जानिए गीता का महत्त्व)
#WATCH | Gandhinagar: Gujarat Education Minister Praful Pansheriya says, “Under the guidance of CM Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat government has decided to teach Bhagawad Gita to the students of 6th to 8th standard and the syllabus has been prepared and launched today…It’s an effort… pic.twitter.com/ia85lxR4Hz
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2023
Background
On March 17, 2022, The Hindu had reported the decision of the Gujarat government that the Bhagavad Gita will be a part of school syllabus for classes 6 to 12 from the academic year 2022-23. The announcement had then been made by Education Minister Jitu Vaghani in the Assembly during the discussions on the budgetary allocations for the Education department
The State government circular said the idea was to “cultivate a sense of pride and connection to traditions.”
“Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’s values, principles and importance are accepted by people of all religions. In class VI, Shrimad Bhagavad Gita will be introduced in such a way that students will develop an interest in it,” Mr. Vaghani said.
According to him, the students will be explained the importance of the Bhagavad Gita in the beginning and then stories will be introduced in the form of slokas, sloka songs, essays, debates, plays, quizzes, etc. Everything will be provided to the schools by the government. From classes 9-12, the students will be introduced to the chapters in detail.
At the time, the move by the State government to introduce the religious text to the students in the primary schools has found support from the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.
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