The MP government is restrained by its high court to allow only voluntary participation to organize "surya namaskar" and "pranayam" program in schools. The remote idea of voluntary participation is against the secularist spirit and is an admission of an official religion. And how many students know their right to voluntary participation when they go to school and are expected to obey their teachers. How many of the students can say “No”, even if they wanted to? Those who say no will be promptly expelled or reprimanded for doing what it right.
"Right to freedom of religion & worship” is again misused by the society. Most schools and colleges in our country still conduct a "prayer" session which violates the right to worship for a specific set of students, who does not belong to the religion to which the prayer session is being held. These institutions not only force the students to attend a prayer session, while they don't even have the basic right to "initiate" a prayer session in an educational environment.
Certain schools in our country even enforce a religious dress code to its students. And some schools have in-built prayer halls, temples, churches and mosques within its campus. Contrary to this, in TamilNadu there are certain educational institutions that are affiliated to self-respect groups who do not believe in god and religion, force its students not to perform or enjoy any religious activity by not providing holidays that are gazetted.
Religious activities should be left alone to the religious institutions and educational institutions should do what they are intended to do which is to provide education.
11 comments:
Unfortunately, religion and education cannot be separated as easily. If you incorporate religion / religious ways in schools, there are some nay-sayers and if you don't there is a different group of protestors. Utopian thoughts are just that - utopian.
In that case we should remove the "Secularist" clause from our constitution and say India is a Hindu country. We should not say we are secular and also try to preach a religion. We can not have it both ways.
But that would not work well the "vote-bank" politics.
don't go there..... that is a different story.
Sensitive issue! Well written! :)
On the flip-side though,
- what would you call a muslim kid who can recite verser from the Gita and give a proper explanation for it?
a kafir or a truly secular product?
Nope, its not even close to Utopian, search the pages of The Hindu and you will find it.
Why? Would say our own APJ or Gandhi is any less of a person because they were aware of the other religion?
While I do subscribe to the idea of practising the religion one wants, why should one choose "what one wants" by parading "my right" and closing the door on other religions. Isn't one better of looking at what the other religion says, and then make the choice?
Besides, one always knows what prayers are going to be in a school while choosing to send her ward to that school. So, the freedom to choose is still protected.
In my opinion, prayers at schools are windows into a religion. And religious education comes under the purview of education.
If one wants to learn about other religions, schools should not be made the scape goat. There are religious institutions, libraries, the internet and many more hubs available to learn other religions. Forcing a school to "adopt" a religion is unethical. Religious Education in an educational environment should not be accepted as a general phenomenon. Nevertheless to mention that it may be imparted (I dont vote for it)as part of the "non-educational" hours.
Learn from internet? Only 3.5% of Indians have internet access. If history can be taught in schools, so should religion be. "Teaching" religion and "Preaching" religion are different and I am totally for teaching religion in schools.
Conducting a prayer session tantamount to preaching. Those who have internet connection at home is 3.5%, but there are internet parlors in every nook and corner of Indian streets. Or let me say, those who can afford the internet connection can learn religion from the internet, others can still go to the near by mosque, church or a durga. And why not a library.
Why would any kid go to a internet center, spend Rs. 30 and learn about religion.. noone is forcing religion in schools.. the only schools I think of preaching religion is all those iyer and Iyengars run institution ... wonder whether DAV is a brahimn run school..
Pistu, you said no one is forcing religion and also said Brahmin schools are preaching religion. Which one is true? Whatever the case is I am against a religious activity in a school.
Btw, I know bunch of non-hindu schools doing the same. And there are Periyar type schools that do not allow religious activity even outside the school. How about that?
To me , religion is a private belief and had to be handled with a like minded crowd. Such a crowd can be expected only in a religious place and not in a school.
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