The inclusion of song may be interpreted as part of the ruling BJP agenda to impose Hindu ideology on minorities. PHOTO: AFP
Many eyebrows were raised in the Muslim-dominated neighbourhood of Juhapura in urban Ahmedabad, when schools were asked to include in their morning assembly ritual songs supposedly linked to the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Oddly enough, one of the two songs that the government asked Muslim majority schools to include was Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, Vaishnav Jana To, which is composed in Gujarati.
The other, Manushya Tu Bada Mahaan Hai, is said to be linked to the RSS. The schools themselves have not refused to get their students to sing these songs – as nothing in them can be described as being overtly Hindu or dismissive of any other religion.
However, the inclusion of the song may be interpreted elsewhere as a part of the ruling Bharatia Janta Party’s (BJP) agenda to impose Hindu ideology and culture on the country’s minorities. The state of Gujarat witnessed one of the worst episodes of Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002, when the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi was Gujarat’s chief minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2015.
COMMENTS (7)
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In a country like India where people of diverse origins reside, the imposition of particular rituals are unwelcome which is going to destroy the pluralist and secular fabric of the country. The RSS-linked songs should not be imposed on schools where students from other faith also study. Rather the Gujarat government should focus more on national songs like Jana Gana Mana and Sare Jahan se Achha Hindustan Hamar... We should bring the people of the country under one umbrella rather than dividing them in the lines of religion, cast, creed and culture.
@Salman: Before you comment first read what that song means here's the link and judge for yourself. It doesn't preach hate against any religion. It teaches man to respect others. Have good character. http://www.mkgandhi.org/g_hymns/bhajan.htm We will only speak up if it teaches hate against other religions. Why should we when it teaches opposite? We too sang prayers in our school to Jesus, Allah in it that's pluralism.
And the Facist ideology of RSS from the 1920s is revived. I hope India studies how Facist Italy and Nazi Germany ended
Paid teens can post against Pakistan on fb for pennies, I don't take them seriously but Modi's Hinduvta designs are inspired by Fascist and Nazi ideology and rational Indians should speak up and stop this madness before it bring destruction for India
Vaishnav jan tho song is hindu against Muslims idealogy? So non voilence, humanity is only hindu idealogy? The song means the person knows the pains of others, does good to others, without pride entering his mind. He who tolerates and praises all in the world and speaks no ill to others. Vaishnav word is a caste in Gujarati community . If that word is objectionable to non Vaishnavs hindus and other religion don't sing the word.simple Sing rest of song. The songs teachs you respect,humanity,non voilence and pluralism, not being a religious nut. Even we sang church songs to Jesus and mother Mary in our morning prayers in school. That was not influencing hindus? Or singing "Malik there bands hum". It's being plural and secular and singing prayers from all faith to same God we are told. Congress can stoop to any level to regain power. Divide and rule is its speciality. They did they same for yoga as excercise. "Rss putting their ideology in school." Now world does yoga, blame it on rss forcing the world.