UP: Chapter on CM Yogi’s Guru, Nath sects finds entry in school books

The syllabus in state-run schools in Uttar Pradesh has taken a saffron hue as a chapter on Baba Gorakhnath has stealthily found its entry into school books. Students up to Class VIII would be taught about the Guru of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his contribution in spreading Hindutva across eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The life history of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jan Sangh which was the precursor of he Bharatiya Janata Party, and BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhaya has also been included in the school books from class VI to VIII. Life history of freedom fighters like Shahid Bandhu Singh, Rani Avanti Bai and warrior brother Aalha-Udal have also been included in the syllabus. Shahid Babu Bandhu Singh belonged to Gorakhpur, the city to which CM Yogi belongs.

The most striking feature is inclusion of a chapter on Baba Gorakhnath in the course books. He is the deity of the Nath sect. CM Yogi is the mahant, or Chief Priest, of the Gorakhnath dham in Gorakhpur. “Nath sect has done tremendous work in eastern Uttar Pradesh. The children should know their contribution towards society and how this sect has worked for the welfare of the people,” said Sureshwar Kumar Singh, a senior official in Basic Education department.

The story does not end here. The government has included a chapter on Baba Gambhirnath, who is another saint of Nath sect, in the text book.

“Chapters on their lifespan should be included in the text books so that students could know about them,” Yogi had said in his directives to the officials of the Basic Education department, which finalises the syllabus of upper primary and primary section.

The chapter on Baba Gorakhnath has been included in the book called Jivni (Life history) for class VI. Chapter 6 talks about Baba Gorakhnath and his contribution in uniting Hindus by exposing them to the goodness of Hindutva. Chapter 26 talks about Baba Gambhirnath and his influence on 'Nath samaj’ and how he had carried forward the work done by Baba Gorakhnath.

The Opposition has called these changes an attempt to saffronise education. "The Yogi government has deliberately included some chapters to influence the impressionable minds of the students. They are sowing the seeds of hatred by saffronising education, which is a dangerous trend,” said Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan questioned why the Government has left out socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. “This shows the partisan attitude of the government and how in the name of changing syllabus, the Yogi government is pushing its own party agenda", Sajan pointed out.