I read in the newspapers today that a State Government has decided to make the practice of a Yoga asana, the Surya Namaskar, in educational institutions, voluntary, owing to objections from minority (read non-Hindu) communities in the State. The communities believe, and they are right to some extent, that the asana has religious connotations, as in it is intended to be seen as a respectful offering to the Sun, who is deified in Hinduism as the Giver of Life.
But the point here is that while the said asana has religious connotations, it isn't limited to just that. The Surya Namaskar is perhaps the best exercise that a growing child can be exposed to, and regular practice of the same is guaranteed to ensure that the child grows into a very healthy and well-balanced individual. Rejecting the exercise solely on the basis of its 'communal' association, without taking into consideration the health benefits derivable by its practice, is a dangerous idea, and even more foolish, to say the least.
Secularism is something that the
Their decision to have announced the scheme as a purely voluntary one sadly escapes the main issue, and establishes a dangerous precedent, a precedent which could be used by anyone in the future to justify non-inclusion of a potentially beneficial course of education in the curricula solely on the basis that it originates from the tenets of a specific faith or community.
One hopes that better judgement prevails and the decision taken is reversed, if not for the sake of common sense, then at least for the children.
3 comments:
It is sad to see that politics has now reached the schools. The exercise would have indeed been helpful for the children but creating an issue out of it is more benefical for the religious vote-banks.
I think that it's a completely baseless issue. These same parents won't object to their childern praying to Jesus in Covent schools. Infact, they would be proud of their children's education.
All this is poltical hogwash.
The same thing happened when 'Vande Mataram' was to be made compulsary. They don't care about what goes in schools. They turn blind eyes to teachers hitting, injuring children. Because these issues don't bring in votes.
That the Surya Namaskar is the best excercise a growing child can be exposed to is a subjective matter. Since while performing the SN one prays to the Sun god (in Hindu mythology) this maybe unacceptable to our brothers of the Muslim faith, justifiably so as they regard one and only one supernatural enitity - Allah and prophet Mohammed who spread Allah's word. Greeting a Sun-god is like going against the principles of their faith.
Its more a question of how do you present what you do rather than what you do!
An attempt could have been made to reach out to people of other faiths explaining how the exercise is beneficial for children.
Let us not forget that this attempt to introduce the activity comes from the BJP govt. in MP which on many previous occasions has presented its regressive, far-right wing side by its actions.
Expectedly, minorities in these states have today become extremely distrustful of self-proclaimed hindu-leaders.
Before we begin to reason out such issues, we first need to build an atmosphere of trust.
I am afraid that we are doing nothing to preserve our greatest heritage - peaceful existence of diversity.
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