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Finding Fault with Prayers in School

R K SINHA, MP (Rajya Sabha)

Is following Hindi, Hindu Culture or being Hindu a crime in this country? But indications are like that. A latest example of this nature has come in form of a petition filed by someone mentally deranged in the Supreme Court of India questioning the prayers recited in Kendriya Vidyalayas since it promotes Hindutva. This prayer is recited in all Kendriaya Vidyalayas for decades, since 1960s to be correct. When Kendriya Vidyalayas were established, the great grandfather of Rahul Gandhi, Jawharlal Nehru was Prime Minister of India. It was December 15, 1963 when Kendriya Vidyalaya was established during life time of Nehru. Now this prayer is being described as ‘unconstitutional’. Surprisingly, no student or teacher objected to the prayer in the past.

When Kendriya Vidyalayay was established, noted educationist and lawyer Md. Currim Chagla was Education Minister of India. That time there was no trace of BJP or NDA Government in the country. But the so called secular forces are after this prayer.

The prayer is, “Asotoma Sadgamaya.Tamsoma Jyotirgama. Mrityormamritamgamaya” (Lead me from untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from death to eternity).

One wonders where is Hindu or Hindutva in this prayer? But one Vinyak Shah of Madhya Pradesh sees Hindutva in the prayer. I spoke to some students, guardians and teachers of Kendriya Vidyalaya before writing this article. Nobody told me that any student or teacher ever objected to this prayer. It is also not that many students who passed out from Kendriya Vidyalaya and became, doctor, engineer, judge, journalists, teachers and scientists had any difficulty in understanding the meaning of the prayer. Then why this objection to the prayer is being raised. If anyone has any objection to the prayer he or she is free not to send his ward to Kendriya Vidyalaya.

A sentence is written in the logo of Kendriya Vidyalaya- “Tatva pushan apavrinu” This sentence is taken from 15th sloka of Ishavasyopanishad in Yajurved. The full sloka is- “Hiranyamen Patreyan Satyasahapihita Mukham TatvapushanpravinuSatyadharmaye Drishtiye”. It means “O the protector and preserver of all, Lord. The truth that is covered in the pot, lift the lid and show me the truth”.

One purpose of setting up of Kendriya Vidyalaya was to infuse nationalism and Indianness in students.

More than a million students study in Kendirya Vidyalaya. Will the petitioner tell us how many of them after reciting the prayers belonging to other religious faith have embraced Hinduism?

The Supreme Court has admitted the petition and issued notice to the Government on this matter. The petitioner has argued that the prayer goes against Article 25 and Article 28 of the Constitution of India. The prayer is against the spirit of the Constitution. Schools being run by the Government funds cannot be allowed to promote any particular religion or faith, the petition says.

Overdose of Secularism

It is the result of overdose of secularism..”:lamhon mein khata kithi par sadiyon mein payee saja” (Committed offence r few moments but got punishment for decades).

There is one uniform and common curricula in all 12 lakh schools of Kendriya Vidyalaya. Students have passed out from the school and have occupied high position in the society after reciting the same prayers for years.

Days are not far off when objections would be raised over citations of slokas from Veda. People may also demand to declare the slokas of Vedas as unconstitutional.

In 2005 there was some demand of removing the word ‘Sindh” from our National Anthem. Instead of Sindh there was demand to include Kashmir in the National Anthem. The argument was that since Sindh is no longer part of India, the word should be removed from the National Anthem. Such attempts to change National Anthem words are made time to time. Sometime back, in a convent school of Allahabad, there was ban on singing National Anthem, When complaint was lodged with the administration, the local police arrested the managing official of the school. The manager, Ziaul Haq objected to the words “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata” How Bharat can be preserver of all living in Bharat. It is against Islam, haq argued.

There has been demand in the past to change the wordings of our National Anthem which has no rationale. You will not get any example of this nature in any other country of the world.

The Supreme Court of India had dismissed the petition filed by one Sanjeev Bhatnagar demanding removal of the word Sindh since Sindha was not part of India after partition of the country un 1947. Justice R C Lakhoti who was chief justice not only dismissed the PIL filed by Bhagtnagar but also chided him for bringing such frivolous petition before the apex court and imposed a fine of Rupees ten thousand on the petitioner.

(The writer is a Rajya Sabha Meber)

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