In a recent directive, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan has instructed all government schools across the state to organize collective Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) performances on February 15, coinciding with the occasion of Surya Saptami. The participants expected to participate include students, teachers/staff, parents, and local villagers.
The Rajasthan Secondary Education Department in Bikaner issued an official order on Tuesday, directing district education officials to conduct daily practice sessions of Surya Namaskar during school prayers leading up to the grand event on February 15. "The preparation for the collective performance includes the collection of data on participants, aiming to set a 'world record", reads the order issued by the education department.
"The Surya Namaskar will be reintroduced in the state's schools. We are planning a large-scale event at the state level, on February 15th and 16th which marks the Surya Saptami. Ahead of February 15, all the schools will be conducting the practice sessions which will be beneficial for students to inculcate this as a daily habit," Rajasthan school education minister Madan Dilawar told reporters.
"Bhamashah and social workers will be involved, representing various sectors including social, religious, political, rural, and others. The goal is to make this program the largest in the country, with the maximum number of people performing Sun Salutations together", added Dilawar.
"The sun is a deity and everything is achievable through the sun's light. The event on Surya Saptami would be significant and foster an interest in physical exercise among people", said 65-year-old Dilawar, also a sitting MLA from the Ramganjmandi constituency of Rajasthan.
Religion and Education should be kept separate: Congress
Reacting to this move by the ruling government, the opposition Congress has raised eyebrows and said that such orders should not be made compulsory. "Religion and education should be kept separate. No organisation or any political party can decide what is beneficial for the students. The school curriculums and co-circular activities are supposed to be designed by educationists and experts rather than any political party or an idealogue", Swarnim Chaturvedi, the chief spokesperson of the Congress party in Rajasthan told Outlook.
Back in 2015, under the BJP government by the former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, the then-education minister Vasudev Devnani had also introduced yoga, surya namaskar, and meditation in all government schools, stating that the measures will improve the mental and physical well-being of students in the state. The move had then also received criticism from various social groups and minority communities.
