RSS book in Vadodara schools

The yoga chapters lay down a disciplinary daily schedule for students, right from physical yogasan to chanting Sanskrit shlokas.

Books published by the education wing of the RSS in Gujarat have made it to the curriculum of students studying in the 105-odd primary schools being run by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC). These books have been introduced for the first time for classes I to VIII during the current academic year.

The books, published by Vidyabharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan, Gujarat Pradesh, aim to “foster a national education system to develop a young generation devoted to Hinduism, national unity with patriotism and pride for overall development…”

The books, titled Jivan Vikaspothi, carry chapters on yoga, physical training, socially constructive acts, culture, Vedic maths and music in eight different levels, beginning Class I.

The yoga chapters lay down a disciplinary daily schedule for students, right from physical yogasan to chanting Sanskrit shlokas. The Class I music chapters include bhajans to Goddess Saraswati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Krishna and songs in praise of Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji and Rani Lakshmi Bai.

The textbooks do not camouflage the promotion of Hindu nationalism, in line with the RSS ideology. The website of the publication, however, says its educational belief is to counter the “menace of conversion by Christian missionaries” through its educational programmes.

The website says, “The greatest menace of tribal areas is the exploitation of poor natives of forests by the Christian missionaries… Instead of blaming them, Vidya Bharati has extended its educational programmes to Vanvasi areas. The effort is to foster national unity, respect for all religions and faiths, patriotism and pride in Bharatiya dharma.”

A special focus is also on noted RSS founders K B Hedgewar and Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar, popularly called Pujaniya Guruji.

Story continues below this ad

Officials said the subject is out of purview of evaluation. Keyur Rokadia, chairman of VMC Primary School Board, said it is only to promote “overall” development of students.

Aditi Raja

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram