THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Teaching of Bhagavad Gita in schools and colleges will not be against the Constitution, Bharateeya Vichara Kendram director P Parameswaran has said. In a statement here on Tuesday, he said that the CPM politburo had objected to Supreme Court judge A R Dave’s statement that Indians should revert to their ancient traditions and texts such as Mahabharat and Bhagavad Gita and that these texts should be introduced to children at an early age.
Press Council chairman Justice Markandey Katju also had stated that such a move would be against secular ethos and the Constitution and will do it ‘’great harm.’’ Parameswaran said it was natural for judges to differ even on arriving at a judgment and it need not be questioned.
Parameswaran said to a certain extent the learning of even alphabets is being thrust upon children and it is quite natural for children at an early age as they will be reluctant to learn it He pointed out that Bhagavad Gita was being considered not as a religious edict but as a book widely interpreted for its universal appeal. ‘’Mahatma Gandhi has stated that ‘Gita was his mother’ and he turned to it for solution whenever he faced a crisis. It has also been a book that greatly influenced the country’s Independence movement,’’ he pointed out.
He said Gita helps in imparting great moral values and also in emulating these in one’s life. Pointing out that the sketch of Lord Krishna giving the ‘Gitopadesh’ to Arjun had been included in the first page of the first edition of the Indian Constitution which was signed by all members of the Constituent Assembly, he asked: ‘’ When even Constitution has approved Gita how it can be against Constitution?’’