Indian students forced to say 'Jai Hind' instead of 'Present, sir' to mark attendance

'Government is instilling feeling of patriotism forcefully,' says general secretary of Teachers’ Association

After the compulsory flag hoisting was introduced in Madhya Pradesh schools in January, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government will make “Jai Hind” mandatory for all students from November as a marker of their attendance, reported Hindustan Times.

The first district to adopt this practice shall be Satna, from October 1 – a month before the rule is implemented in all schools across the state, after the state cabinet sent in their approval. School Education minister Vijay Shah said that the decision was taken to “instill a sense of patriotism” amongst students.



“Jai Hind is acceptable to students of all religions so I have decided to introduce it. We just want to keep our culture alive which our young generation is forgetting,” said Shah. Leader of the Madhya Pradesh

Youth Congress Kunal Chauhdary, however, said, “We don’t have any problem with chanting Jai Hind but school education department’s main job is to provide quality education for better future of students and they have failed in their task. Instead of concentrating on what the student should wear, chant and which culture they should follow, the government should improve the condition of schools and education system.”

MP Teachers’ Association general secretary Ashutosh Pandey said, “The government is instilling a feeling of patriotism forcefully. If they really want that students feel proud of our country, they should provide them best education and facilities. The term is not enough to make students patriotic.” Chaudhary also said, “According to a study by the Child Rights and You (CRY), 94% schools in the state have “significant infrastructural gaps” in compliance of the Right to Education Act, 2009, even six years after the act was implemented.

A section of educationists and also the Opposition Congress leaders say they feel the government should focus more on improving the quality of education and results than introducing Jai Hind.



Recently, the National Institute of Open Schooling found that hundreds of students had passed the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams without even taking them.