Thaindian News

Bhopal, July 1 (IANS) First Surya Namaskar (Sun salutation), then the singing of Vande Mataram. Now, Gita lessons would be taught in Madhya Pradesh schools, an official said Friday.

The idea floated by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last year will be implemented in Classes 1 to 10 in the current academic session as officials have started sending copies of the Gita to schools.

School education department principal secretary Rajnish Vaish claimed that other religions’ holy books will also be taught in schools soon.

Father Anand Muttungal, general secretary of the Harmony Foundation, told IANS: “We are not opposed to it but we want that other religions’ books should also be taught in schools.” He has also given a memorandum to Governer Rameshwar Thakur on the issue.

Since 2008, school students in Madhya Pradesh have to perform the Surya Namaskar and sing the Vande Mataram. The national song is also sung in every state government office.

“We had gone to the Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) High Court over the issue. It had said that the government could not force other religions’ people for Surya Namaskar,” Father Anand said.

Now, both Vande Mataram and Surya Namaskar are voluntary and the minorities are exempted from it.

“This time, the government did not assure us that they will also teach other religions’ books. We only came to know through media that it will happen in the future. If it did not happen, again we will have to knock the court’s door,” he added.