India
The decision to keep Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan in educational institutions comes months after the education department decided to introduce Vedic and Buddhist studies at the higher secondary level in the state
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to introduce an Urdu version of the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan in all educational institutions and public libraries.
An official statement from the government that was signed by the school education department's under-secretary to government read: “The School Education Department, Higher Education Department, Director Colleges, Director Libraries and Culture Department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies each of Urdu version of "Shrimad Bhagwat-Geeta" and "Koshur Ramayan" authored by Shri Sarwanand Premi for making these available in Schools/ Colleges and public libraries etc. of the State," reads an order dated October 22,2018."
This decision has stirred up controversy in the Muslim-majority state. Former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted saying, “Why just the Gita and Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, collages & government libraries (and I’m not convinced that they need/should be) then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored?”
Why just the Gita & Ramayana? If religious texts are to be placed in schools, collages & government libraries (and I’m not convinced that they need/should be) then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored? pic.twitter.com/UqxMG0NpMJ
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah)The decision to keep Bhagavad Gita and Ramayan in educational institutions comes months after the education department decided to introduce Vedic and Buddhist studies at the higher secondary level in the state.
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