December onwards the State Government will start moral education in schools which will include Bhagavad Gita lessons. B.C. Nagesh, Minister for School Education and Literacy informed the Council. But no proposal is there before the Government to teach Bhagavad Gita separately.
The Bhagavad Gita has been read by people for many years in this country. It is read by all people and the book is translated in all the languages across the world. To improve the morale of the students the government wants to teach Bhagavad Gita in state run schools as part of moral science.
Based on the Committee’s advice, the Government will take a decision whether to include Bhagavad Gita in moral education. To teach Bhagavad Gita separately decision is yet to be taken by the government. Mr. Nagesh replied to BJP member M.K. Pranesh. He said an expert committee will be established to draft a syllabus for moral education.
Mr. Pranesh, not satisfied by Minister’s reply, reminded the Minister that he had earlier told that Bhagavad Gita would be taught in schools. He asked the Minister there is no reason to go back on his words.”I don’t think there is any opposition to teach Bhagavad Gita in schools? Is there any embarrassment in this?”
The member Mr. Pranesh argued that there are some “corrections” to be done in the school text books.He asserted that “Datta Peeta” is mentioned as “Bababudangiri” in Chikmagalur, in the text books and it should be revised as “Inam Dattatreya Peetha”. The Minister agreed to this.
State Congress Chief D. K. Shivakumar opposed the Government’s plan saying that excerpts from Ramayana and other epics were already part if school syllabus.
