DEhradun: According to an order issued on Monday, a verse will be recited from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in all government schools across Uttarakhand during prayer meetings. Director of Secondary Education, Dr. The instructions issued by Mukul Kumar Sati to all the Chief Education Officers show that students should also be informed about the meaning and scientific relevance of Shloka every day. The move aims to a mixture of modern education with traditional Indian knowledge systems and develop human values and character-building symptoms in students. As per the order, teachers need to select a shloka every week, as “Shloka of the Week”, write it with its meaning on the school notice board, and make sure that students practice it. At the end of the week, the verse will be discussed in the classroom, and the student’s response will be taken. Teachers from time to time have been directed to students to explain the principles of Bhagavad Gita and highlight how these teachings contribute to human values, leadership skills, emotional balance, decision-making ability and development of scientific thinking. The order emphasizes that the teachings of the Gita are inherent in psychology, logic, behavioral science and moral philosophy, and should be introduced from a secular mature. It also notes that the initiative leads to the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) with the objectives of 2020, which advocates in modern education of integration of traditional knowledge systems of India. The instructions underline that the Gita Shloka should not only be taught as reading materials, but should be reflected in students’ daily behavior and approach. “It should be ensured at every level that the teachings of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and their scientific view are used to make character development, self-control, balanced life approach, personality development and students better citizens,” the order has been said. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had earlier instructed that the teachings of Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana have been included in the state curriculum. Accordingly, aligned textbooks with new structure are expected to be introduced from the next academic session. Welcoming the move, Mufti Shamoon Kasmi, president of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Education Board, said, “Both Ram and Krishna are our ancestors, and it is very important for every Indian to know about them.” He said that such an initiative will promote unity and promote the progress of the state. He also said that the Madrasa Board plans to sign an MoU with the Sanskrit department to introduce Sanskrit in Madrasas.
