Bengaluru: A circular from the directorate of Urdu and minority languages schools’ association to conduct a religious texts recitation competition as part of Pratibha Karanji (talent hunt) programme, has drawn objections from some quarters. Contestants can choose from chapters of Bhagavad Gita and some Surahs of Islamic scriptures.
Some writers and educationists said topics for a recitation contest shouldn’t be based on religion. “Instead, students should be encouraged to read scriptures that uphold constitutional values or read the Constitution itself, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) or works of poets and writers who uphold equality. In a country like ours, school must be a place which upholds oneness, devoid of any religious aspects,” they said in a statement.
NLSUI’s VP Niranjanaradhya, writers G Ramakrishna and Vasundara Bhupathi and other signatories said the competition must recognize children’s efforts towards learning a language or exhibiting their talent, and not to propagate religious ideas. tnn
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