Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita lessons soon in college, school

New Delhi, Sept 11: Lessons from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Gita may soon be taught in schools and colleges as part of NDA government's plan to rid the country of "cultural pollution" and inculcate "values" among young minds.

Ministries of Culture and HRD are working on a plan to teach students about India's cultural values following detailed deliberations at a meeting of Education and Culture Ministers of BJP ruled states and the Centre, besides RSS affiliates. Giving details of the plan, Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma said the government will not be deterred by criticism that it was trying to promote RSS ideology.

"We want to bring it as part of our culture that they (students) should be taught values, they should be taught teachings of Mahabharata, teachings of Ramayana, they should be taught teachings of Gita and all other spritual values irrespective of caste, creed and religion," Sharma told PTI in an interview.

The Minister said thought process of a "particular family which has dominated politics of the country for over 60 years" has been incorporated into the education system and that "NDA government is determined to restore India's cultural heritage".

"Dynasty has been there. Indirectly or directly, you may put the blame on thinking of that family. It's a system which works. By and large, the thought process of that family has been incorporated (into the system)," he said.

Asked whether CBSE will be asked to incorporate teachings of Gita, Mahabharata and Ramayana into the textbooks, the Minister said, "There has been a discussion on this issue in what best manner it can be done."

On criticism that the NDA government was trying to impose RSS' ideology Sharma said people of India have given a huge mandate to Narendra Modi and there is nothing wrong in making systemic changes.

"What is RSS ideology, is it anti-national?, Has any of the heads of RSS been anti-national? Are they extremists? What has been wrong about the RSS ideology? I have been with RSS for last 40 years. They never talk of anti-national things.

"If at all saffronisation has been done, it has been done by none other than 125 crore people of the country who gave us a huge mandate. They knew what is RSS, what is BJP. They have given us a mandate to run the country," said Sharma.

Sharma said contributions of nationalist leaders including Subhash Chandra Bose and Deen Dayal Upadhyay may feature in the revamped Nehru Memmorial Library and Museum here as it has been set up to highlight contributions of important leaders and not the country's first Prime Minister alone.

PTI