Students of Classes 1 to 10 in Madhya Pradesh government schools will be taught lessons from the Bhagvad Gita from the current academic year. Top state government officials on June 30 said that the books were ready to be dispatched to every school. Overriding protests from leaders of other religious communities, after chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan came up with the idea last year, the state government is on its way to start lessons in the Gita Saar (summarised teachings from the Gita). The only technicality left before the books roll out is a clearance from the state syllabus committee.
The Gita lessons will not be part of the curriculum, but will supplement regular subjects in the same way as moral science and physical education. A part of it, however, may get into the Hindi literature syllabus. Rajneesh Vaish, principal secretary, school education department, said the state was considering a proposal to incorporate teachings from holy books of other religions as well. The decision to introduce teachings from the Gita for students from class one to ten had been taken despite protests from leaders of other religious communities in the state.