Not just Bhagavad Gita: Minority body seeks equal representation of all religious texts in Gujarat schools

The Minority Coordination Committee convener, Mujahid Nafees, in a letter to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, urged the state government to include teachings from the Quran, Bible, and Guru Granth Sahib in the state curriculum alongside the recently added Bhagavad Gita.

On August 1, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB) announced its decision to teach the Bhagavad Gita in first language textbooks for Classes 9 to 12. The state had introduced the Gita for Classes 6 to 8 last year.

He argued that the Gujarat government’s move to include only one religious text, excluding others, contradicts the principles of secularism in the Indian Constitution. “The Constitution of India defines our nation as a secular state, wherein the State cannot promote or propagate any particular religion,” he said.

“The State of Gujarat is home to followers of all religions. To ensure that every citizen gains knowledge of the teachings of all faiths, it is essential that, along with the sacred text of the Hindu religion—the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita—teachings from the Holy Quran, Holy Bible, Holy Guru Granth Sahib, and other religious scriptures be equally incorporated,” he said in the letter.

He further pushed for the inclusion of sacred scriptures of other religions on par with the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. “I urge immediate action to issue necessary directions so that, from this academic session itself, the First Language textbooks include excerpts and teachings from the sacred scriptures of other religions, on par with those from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita,” he added.

He urged the CM to uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution and foster the spirit of equality among all faiths.