By Sahar Khan
Raipur: A political firestorm has erupted in Chhattisgarh following the state government’s controversial directive making the recitation of Hindu religious chants, including the Gayatri Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, and Bhojan Mantra, mandatory in all government schools for the upcoming 2026–27 academic session.
The opposition Congress party has fiercely hit back, accusing the ruling BJP of aggressively pushing an “RSS agenda” and attempting to forcefully convert secular public education institutions into religious training grounds.
According to an official order issued by the School Education Department, a strict daily schedule has been locked in for students across the state:
- Morning Assembly: National Anthem (Rashtragan), National Song (Rashtrageet), Deep Mantra, Saraswati Vandana, Guru Mantra, and the reading of biographies of great historical personalities.
- Midday Meal: Mandatory recitation of the Bhojan Mantra before eating.
- Evening (School Dismissal): State Song (Rajyageet), Gayatri Mantra, and Shanti Mantra.
Sushil Anand Shukla, Chairman of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Communication Department, launched a scathing attack on the BJP government, alleging a covert attempt to model state-run schools after Saraswati Shishu Mandirs (schools run by the RSS educational wing).
“Children from all faiths, castes, and communities study in government schools. Forcing mantras linked to a specific religion upon everyone violates the secular fabric of our Constitution. What if people from other religions will rightfully demand the recitation of their own holy texts,” warned Shukla.
Defending the policy, State School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav summarily dismissed the opposition’s criticism. “These prayers aim to instil discipline, culture, and moral values in students,” Yadav asserted.
However, a quieter wave of discontent is brewing within the various academic circles. Some prominent educationists and academicians have expressed deep surprise over the School Education Department’s dense, three-tier daily mantra schedule. They argued that the policy shifts crucial instructional focus away from cultivating a modern, progressive curriculum.
“A school’s primary objective is to equip children with critical thinking and reasoning skills. Why narrow them down to a singular theological framework,” said a retired professor of sociology from Raipur, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
