Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has sought a response from the government on its decision to teach the Bhagavad Gita in schools in the state. In fact, the Gujarat government had recently announced the inclusion of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita Sar in the syllabus of classes 6 to 12 in schools. According to this decision under the new education policy, children from 6th to 12th standard in all the schools of the state will be taught the principles and values of the Bhagavad Gita.
But, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Gujarat High Court on behalf of the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind against this decision of the Government of Gujarat. The petitioner has challenged the state government's proposal, claiming that it is a violation of the National Education Policy. However, the High Court has refused to stay the proposal for the time being. The court asked the government to file its reply by August 18. Not only this, but the High Court has also made the Centre a party in the matter. Let us know that in March this year, the Education Minister of the Gujarat Government announced the inclusion of the Gita in the curriculum.
Advocate Mihir Joshi, appearing for Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, has said that the values and principles of Indian culture and the system of knowledge can certainly be laid down in the school curriculum, but the question is whether it should be done only by giving priority to the values and principles of the holy book of one religion. There is a wide range of what is included in Indian culture. But is it proper to give primacy to the values and principles set out in the religious book of only one religion?
Earlier, the government had announced the inclusion of Gita in the curriculum, saying that school children could know the knowledge of Gita and its values, so that the eloquence competition, Shlock anthem and literature would also be organized on the Gita. The Gujarat government has announced to teach the Bhagavad Gita in schools at a time when assembly elections are due in the state in a few months.
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