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Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
States free to choose any 3 Indian languages under NEP: RSS body
New Delhi, States are free to choose any three of the 22 Indian languages prescribed under the New Education Policy for teaching in schools, Vidya Bharati national president Ravindra Kanhere said on Friday, dismissing the Tamil Nadu government's charge of imposition of Hindi by the Centre. States free to choose any 3 Indian languages under NEP: RSS body He also asserted that implementation of the three-language formula in schools is achievable as children can easily learn more than one language at a time. Replying to media queries at an annual press conference here of Vidya Bharati, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , Kanhere also favoured the removal of "misleading facts" in the history textbooks. "We should write historical facts only. Over the years, we have seen some or other misleading facts in the books. But they have been removed. There is nothing wrong in doing so," he told reporters when asked about the National Council of Educational Research and Training dropping the references to the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in its textbooks last year. Favouring the three-language formula prescribed under the NEP, Kanhere said the Vidya Bharati is of the clear view that elementary education should be provided in the mother tongue. "No language has been imposed on any state under the New Education Policy," he told reporters when asked for his comment on the Tamil Nadu government's allegation that the Centre is trying to impose Hindi on the state. They have to choose any three of the 22 languages prescribed under the NEP, he said. "If someone in the South is learning Tamil, he can also learn Malayalam or any other language… All Indian languages have been listed and they have been asked to choose from them," Kanhere said. Students can also learn foreign languages if schools have arrangements, he said, adding, "It could be English, Japanese, Korean or Mandarin also." Kanhere said Vidya Bharati, which opened its first school in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur district in 1952, is currently running 12,118 schools including 14 Sainik Schools in 684 districts across the country, providing quality and "value-enriched" education to children. Vidya Bharati schools are also located in many of the remotest areas of the country, including tribal areas and border districts where there is a lack of even basic minimum facilities, he said. Kanhere said Vidya Bharati is also running over 8,000 non-formal educational centres across the country to support the marginalised sections of the society and about 10,000 'Shishu Vatikas' across the country to provide early childhood education to children. "More than 35.33 lakh students are currently enrolled in Vidya Bharati schools under the able guidance of more than 1.53 lakh teachers," he said, adding, "Our schools are adopting AI-enabled learning platforms, digital classrooms and are aligned with NEP 2020," he said. At present, about 507 Vidya Bharati schools have Atal Tinkering Labs for hands-on learning of AI and other emerging technology, he added. In a statement, the Vidya Bharati said it has ensured that AI, robots, coding and various other digital tools are introduced in its schools responsibly with an emphasis on ethical thinking and character development. "Vidya Bharati's roadmap is guided by Panch Parivartan," it said. The RSS' agenda for bringing 'Panch Parivartan', a five-fold transformation in the society, seeks to inculcate a sense of 'Swa' with 'Bharatiya' values, imbibe right family values, promote social harmony, exhort people to adopt environment-friendly lifestyle and perform civic duties. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
By speaking against English, Amit Shah is trying to impose Hindi, alleges Minister R. Bindu
Minister for Higher Education R. Bindu has said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that those who speak English in India would soon feel ashamed reflected the 'narrow politics' he represents. She alleged that Mr. Shah was trying to impose Hindi by speaking against English. Such a move would be detrimental as India remained a land where various languages were spoken, she told media persons here on Friday. She said that learning as many languages as possible would enhance one's knowledge. English was a world language today. It connected humankind across the globe. The view that one would feel ashamed of speaking English would only help in narrowing the global perspective of the students, she said. Bharat Mata row On the Bharat Mata row involving Raj Bhavan, she said that the Governor's office should not be made a place for propagating the ideals of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). She said that there was no protocol violation in the incident in which Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty walked out of an official function at Raj Bhavan in protest against the display of an image of Bharat Mata associated with the RSS. It was the Governor who violated the protocol by keeping such an image in a Constitutional office, she alleged.
India Today
3 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
After Raj Bhavan row, Kerala minister says textbooks to cover Governor's powers
Kerala's General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Friday announced that the powers and duties of state Governors will be taught in schools, as part of the revised curriculum aimed at reinforcing constitutional values and democratic principles.'Schools are the ideal place to learn the values of democracy,' Sivankutty said, adding that the state's curriculum reforms are designed to reflect this belief. The new content, which outlines the constitutional powers of Governors, will be included in the second volume of the Social Science textbook this academic year, and in upcoming revisions to higher secondary announcement comes against the backdrop of a row between the minister and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. On Thursday, Sivankutty walked out of an official event at the Raj Bhavan, reportedly in protest against the presence of a 'Bharat Mata' image, commonly seen at RSS events, displayed during the Raj Bhavan responded with sharp criticism, calling the walkout a 'serious breach of protocol' and 'a grave insult to the constitutional office of the Governor.' The event was held to distribute Scout and Guide Certificates to school students, with the Governor present on back, Sivankutty accused the Governor of politicising an official event and violating constitutional decorum. He also pointed to what he called a growing trend across the country of attempts to destabilise elected governments by misusing the Governor's the Supreme Court has clarified the constitutional role of Governors,' he said, justifying the inclusion of this topic in school education to help students understand the real function of the post under the Indian the Governor has defended the presence of the 'Bharat Mata' image, saying, 'There is no question of doing away with Bharat Mata, as we draw our idea of patriotism and nationhood from Bharat Mata.' IN THIS STORY#Kerala
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat Mata row: CPI(M) accuses Kerala Governor of crossing Constitutional line by using RSS symbols at State events
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] has accused Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar of crossing a Constitutional line by using Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) emblems at official functions hosted by Raj Bhavan. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan told reporters on Friday (June 20, 2025) that General Education Minister V. Sivankutty had held the Constitutional line by walking out of a State function where Mr. Arlekar paid obeisance to the image of a 'woman holding a saffron flag', a ubiquitous heraldic device used by the RSS. He said the picture, 'replete with majoritarian religious imagery, broadcast the RSS' schismatic aspiration to render India a Hindu nation by supplanting the Constitution with the Manusmriti', an anachronistic and ancient text subscribes to a Hindu society defined by a segregationist and repressive caste and gender-based hierarchy. The CPI(M) welcomed the government's decision to include the Governor's role, responsibilities and Constitutional limitations as Head of State of Provincial Governments. 'Under severe social criticism for using RSS imagery at State events, Raj Bhavan initially recanted the political symbolism but relapsed to Sangh Parivar's ways soon after,' Mr. Govindan said.
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP, RSS discouraging English learning to deny poor opportunities: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fount, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), for discouraging the learning of English to deny India's poor the tools to question authority and access opportunity. 'English is not a dam, but a bridge. English is not a shame, but power. English is not a chain, but a tool to break the chains. The BJP and RSS do not want poor kids of India to learn English because they do not want you to ask questions, move ahead and become equal,' Gandhi wrote on X as he posted a video criticising the RSS for opposing the widespread use of English. '[RSS chief] Mohan Bhagwat says every day to not speak in English but in Hindi. But, if you look at the kids of those in the RSS and the BJP, everyone goes to England for studies… What is the thought behind it? Because they do not want you to enter the board rooms, or for you to get high-paying jobs. They want to go to English schools, carry on with their contracts… They want to keep the doors closed for you.' Gandhi underlined the role of English and native languages as a means of empowerment. He argued English plays a crucial role in instilling confidence and enhancing employment prospects, just like one's mother tongue. 'Every language of India has soul, culture, and knowledge. We have to cherish them, and at the same time, teach English to every child. This is the path to an India that competes with the world and gives every child an equal opportunity.'
