Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has taken a step to foster a stronger connection between students and India’s cultural heritage by introducing a supplementary textbook on the ‘Bhagavad Gita.’ This textbook, based on the revered scripture, will be incorporated into the curriculum for classes 6 to 8, starting from the next academic year. The decision is in alignment with the principles of the National Education Policy introduced by the Union government three years ago.
Praful Pansheriya, Gujarat’s Minister of State for Education, announced the move on social media, stating that the inclusion of spiritual principles and values from the ‘Shrimad Bhagavad Gita’ as a supplementary textbook aligns with the National Education Policy. Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for the decision, Pansheriya emphasized that this academic move would instill moral values among students and help them develop a sense of pride and a stronger connection to India’s rich, diverse, ancient culture and knowledge traditions as conveyed through the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
The supplementary textbook, the first part intended for classes 6 to 8, will soon be distributed to schools nationwide. Pansheriya mentioned that two additional parts for students of classes 9 to 12 are also in the works. He highlighted that the decision, taken under the ‘National Education Policy 2020’ and guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, plays an important role in improving values among students.
In March 2022, the Gujarat government had previously announced in the state Assembly that the Bhagavad Gita would become a part of the school syllabus for classes 6 to 12 throughout the state.
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