Tit-for-Tat! CFI Opposes forcing Students Recite Bhajans in Bantwal School
Tit-for-Tat! Campus Front of India {CFI} Opposes forcing Students Recite Bhajans and perform the Suryanamaskar at Shree Panchadurga School at Uli Village in Bantwal taluk.
Mangaluru: Tit-for-Tat! Following close on its heels after right-wing supporters held a protest few days ago against a ‘Christianity and Islam’ chapter in a school text book, the Campus Front of India (CFI), has opposed forced recital of bhajanas and doing suryanamaskar at Shree Panchadurga School at Uli Village in Bantwal taluk. Few days ago Vishwa Hindu Parishat {VHP} started the protest, and later BJP MLAs took up textbook issue which features, ‘Christianity and Islam’ chapters in Std IX social science, in part 1 of the state syllabus. The VHP had held a protest on the issue, but BJP MLAs have decided to raise the issue in the assembly and demand that the government remove the chapter from the textbook.
As per the BJP MLA’s the textbook forces children to visit churches and mosques to study the rituals of Christians and Muslims, and since it is mentioned as an activity in the chapter, children will be forced to visit churches and mosques, and alleged that “it is a conspiracy.” Meanwhile, Narasimhaiah, managing director, Karnataka Textbook Society had said, “I have already brought the issue and the VHP’s objections to the notice of the government. Any decision with regard to the chapter in the textbook depends on the opinion of the textbook committee and the government. Information on all religions has been included in textbooks of class 8, 9 and 10 in a spiral approach.”
But now, in response to the above text book controversy raised by VHP and BJP, the members have raised their voices against forcing students recite Bhajans and do the Suryanamaskar at a school in Bantwal. Vazir, a leader of CFI, in a memorandum to the Block Education Officer of Bantwal, has alleged that from the past several years, the education institution which has students from all faiths, has been forcing students to recite bhajans and do Suryanamaskar. Speaking to media, Vazir had said, “Even though the children’s parents have opposed to this practice in the said school, yet they are compelled by the school staff to take part in these activities. Bhajanas are held every Thursday, and Suryanamaskar twice a week. Such an imposition is forcing children to discontinue from the school, and go elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the School Headmaster, Jaganath clarifying on this issue had said, ” Singing Bhajans and perform Suryanamaskar are not compulsory for any child in the school. These activities are done before the usual class hours, and Suryanamaskar is done under the guidance of physical education teachers. Those who are interested to perform them are free to do so, while the rest are free to stay away from it. The school has not forced any student to perform these activities”.
In response to the allegations made by CFI, Y Shivaramaiah-the DDPI had said that the education department will find out whether the allegations are true or not, and if there are any violations, we will take necessary action, so that singing Bhajans and performing Suryanamaskar are not forced on anyone, and hurt their religious sentiments.