Vinod Tawde backs distribution of Bhagavad Gita in schools

Mumbai: Terming the Bhagavad Gita a “non-religious” text and “a way of life”, Maharashtra education minister Vinod Tawde said on Saturday that there is nothing communal in distributing the text in educational institutes. Mr Tawde also said the copies of holy books of other religions can also be given to colleges, provided they are made available for free. Nowadays, even if anyone thinks of distributing the Gita in educational institutions, the move is seen as BJP’s attempts of saffronising the education system, he alleged, blaming the media for “projecting it that way”.

“Today, distribution of the Bhagavad Gita means one is communal. When will we come out of this mentality? Even a Class 1 child can be taught several aspects of life through the Gita,” Mr Tawde said at the launch of Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Centre at Girgaum in south Mumbai. “The Gita, Vedas and Upanishads are not religious texts, but philosophical and scientific in nature and these texts should not just be confined to temples, but be made available to common man as they are a way of life,” he said.

“If copies of Quran and Bible are provided free of cost, they will also be distributed in colleges,” Mr Tawde informed. His statement has come after the controversy over distributing Bhagavad Gita in schools. In July this year, the office of the joint director, higher education for Mumbai region had issued a letter asking NAAC ‘A’ and ‘A+’ ranked colleges in the city to collect the copies of Gita from its office. The letter, however, did not mention which group or organisation gave the copies for distribution. The move had kicked up a row with the opposition Congress calling it an effort to ‘saffronise’ the education system.