Opposition leaders have blasted Yogi government for introducing chapters on the lifespan of Baba Gorakhnath, the Guru of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his contribution in spreading Hindutava across eastern Uttar Pradesh, in class VI.
life history on BJP founder Shayama Prasad Mukherjee and its ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhaya has also been included in the school books from class VI to VIII. life history of freedom fighters like Shahid Bandhu Singh, Rani Avanti Bai and warrior brother Aalha-Udal have also been included in the syllabus. Shahid Bbau Bandhu Singh belonged to Gorakhpur – the city to which CM belongs.
Opposition have taken affront to inclusion of a chapter on Baba Gorakhnath in the course books. He is the deity of the Nath sect – the sect which is followed by Chief Minister. Infact, Yogi is Mahant, Chief Priest, of the temple in Gorakhpur called Gorakshnath dham which has been set up in remembrance of Bara Gorakhnath. There are millions of followers in eastern UP who revere Baba Gorakhnath.
“Nath sect has done tremendous work in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The children should know their contribution towards society and how this sect has worked in the welfare of the people,” SureshwarKumar Singh, a senior official in Basic Education department said.
The opposition has called these changes as an attempt to saffronise education. “The Yogi government has deliberately included some chapters to influence the impressionable minds of the students. They are sowing the seeds of hatred by saffronising education which is a dangerous trend,” Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal said.
The story does not end here only. The government has included a chapter on Baba Gambhir Nath, who is another saint of Nath sect, in the text book.
These books from class 1 to 8 will be distributed among students from July 2. The decision to include Hindu saints in the syllabus of the primary and upper primary section of Uttar Pradesh Board was taken after Chief Minister said that many great personalities were ignored by the previous governments.
“Chapters on their lifespan should be included in the text books so that students could know about them,” Yogi had said in his directives to the officials of the Basic Education department, which finalizes syllabus of Upper primary and primary section.
The chapter on Baba Gorakhnath has been included in the book called Jivni (life history) for class VI. The chapter 6 talks about Baba Gorakhnath and his contribution in uniting Hindus by exposing them to the goodness of Hindutava. The chapter 26 talks about Baba Gambhirnath and his influence on `Nath samaj’ and how he had carried forward the work done by Baba Gorakhnath.
Official says that 16 new chapters related to great men have been included in the syllabus from Class VI to VIII.
SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan questions as why Government has left out Ram Manohar lohia. “This shows the partisan attitude of the government and how in the name of changing syllabus, the Yogi government is pushing its own party agenda”, he pointed out.