Yoga made part of school syllabus
Suchandana Gupta, The Times of India
January 13, 2008

Introduction: Muslims Decry MP Move To Start It From April

BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh will introduce yoga in the school curriculum from the next academic session beginning April. This was announced by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday at a surya namaskar yoga programme for students in Bhopal.

Lakhs of students gathered at stadiums, playgrounds and open fields across the state and participated in the programme as part of the Swami Vivekanand Jayanti celebrations. However, most Muslim students stayed away saying surya namaskar was against Islam.

Chauhan, along with school education minister Laxman Singh Gaur, participated in the programme at TT Nagar Stadium. After the pranayam asanas, Chauhan said, “We have always said sex education in schools is unnecessary. Following Indian traditions, we should introduce yoga instead of sex education.’’

“We have decided to make yoga part of the school curriculum from the next session... yoga not only helps keep the body healthy but develops a smart mind. January 12 being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the day will be observed as ‘Yoga Diwas’ by the state government,’’ he said.

This is the second year that a mass surya namaskar was held across the state. In January 2007, yoga guru Ramdev had led the surya namaskar initiative. It was after talks with him that the BJP government took the decision to introduce yoga in the school curriculum.

But the announcement has miffed Muslims. Osaf Shahmiri Khurram, chairman of the All India Muslim Teohar Committee, said the BJP government was trying to force saffron practices on Muslim students. “The ‘Shariat’ does not permit us to worship the Sun. This is against the tenets of Islam. Why does the government only organise mass surya namaskar and want students from our community to join in? If they organise mass yoga programmes, they can also call for a mass Namaz,’’ Khurram said.

The state Congress clarified that it did not disapprove of yoga in education. “We are not against yoga in schools. We are only questioning the intention behind this,’’ said state Congress spokesman Manak Agarwal. “We are afraid the BJP government is introducing yoga in school curriculum to saffronize the education system.’’

Responding to the allegations, Chauhan said: “Yoga unites and connects people. In the West, people have accepted yoga for fitness and good health. It’s time we accepted yoga to make a healthier country.’’ The government also specified that yoga would not be “compulsory’’. But the question is, how can yoga be optional if it is made part of the curriculum. The state said the education department would figure that out.