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The National Institute of Open Schooling new curriculum, introduced by Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal under which ancient Indian knowledge and heritage including Gita, Ramayana, and Mahabharata would be currently taught at around 100 Madrassas as a test around the country and will be further expanded to 500 Madrassas before making it a countrywide modification.

While introducing the curriculum, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said, “India is a powerhouse of ancient language, science, arts and culture and the country is poised to become a knowledge superpower with revival of its ancient heritage.”

The new curriculum includes 15 subjects under “Bharatiya Jnana Parampara’ or Indian Knowledge Tradition, including Veda, yoga, science, vocational skills, Sanskrit language, Ramayana and Mahabharat narratives, Bhagavad Gita teachings, and Maheswhara sutras, among others. The subjects would presently be offered as basic courses for students of classes 3rd ,5th and 8th under the New Education Policy (NEP).

While the Opposition has red-flagged the move, it has received mixed reactions from clerics and Madrassa authorities with some welcoming the curriculum and others slamming it as a ‘Hindutva agenda’.

Clerics have said that books of all religions including the Quran must be taught at schools and that “only introducing the Gita in Madrassas is an attempt to polarize and not related to education in any way.” Zafar Sareshwala, Former Chancellor of Maualana Azad National Urdu University has said, “Best way to stay aware of religion is through religious texts. The youth should be aware of all religions including Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Christianity”.

However, he supported the introduction of Indian religious texts in the curriculum, saying “Many Madrassas that I know of already have the Vedas and the Gita in their libraries.” Meanwhile, Ajaz Ahmed of the Islamic Madrassa Modernization Teacher’s Association of India (IMMTAI) has also welcomed the move.

After getting into controversy over the alleged imposition of Hindu texts on Madrassas, the NIOS has explicitly clarified that it is completely the discretion of the learner to opt for the subject combination from subjects provided by the NIOS. Shoaib Raza Khan, Assistant Academic Director of NIOS, said, “In an open education system, Madrassa students are free to choose from all the subjects available. It is a matter of their choice.”