Decision on introducing Bhagavad Gita in schools after discussion: Karnataka CM Basavraj Bommai – Times of India

“If not the Bhagavad Gita, what else will give moral values,” Bommai asked, responding to a related query. He said in this competitive age children need moral education and if the Gita is made part of the syllabus, it will help them with intelligence.

BJP-ruled Gujarat on Thursday had announced that the scripture will be part of the syllabus for classes 6 to 12 from \ academic year 2022-23. “It has been done in Gujarat; our minister has said he will discuss it. Let’s see what details the education department comes out with,” Bommai added. Home minister Araga Jnanendra in Shivamogga said that the government is not in a hurry to include the Gita in school textbooks as it should be discussed before implementation.
Following Gujarat’s decision, primary and secondary education minister BC Nagesh on Friday had said the state government will discuss the matter with educationists before taking a call, as part of moral science education. Claiming that cultural values among children were taking a beating, the minister said many people have demanded moral science be introduced.

According to Nagesh, earlier there used to be one class of moral science every week where content related to the Ramayana and Mahabharata was taught to students.

The minister also quoted former chief minister SM Krishna’s statement that he reads the Bhagavad Gita every day for strength. Mahatma Gandhi in his autobiography has written that his mother’s teachings on the Ramayana and Mahabharata helped him evolve as a truthful person, Nagesh said.

BJP national general secretary CT Ravi in Chikkamagaluru said the Bhagavad Gita has influenced Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and also former US president Barack Obama. “The Gita doesn’t provoke people to become terrorists but enlightens them to become good human beings,” Ravi said.

No objection to scripture in syllabus: Congress

Former chief minister and leader of opposition Siddaramaiah in Mangaluru said he has no objection to the government’s plan to introduce the Bhagavad Gita in schools. “We have no objection if they introduce the Quran and Bible as well,” he added. However, he said the quality of education in schools should be good so that it will help children acquire the knowledge required to meet the demands of this competitive world.

DK Shivakumar, state Congress chief, said lessons to do with the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita and other religious books are already part of the syllabus. “I don’t know why BJP is glorifying it now,” he added.