For instance ‘Drona Syndrome’ is one such
inclusion that is glorified and taught in the
schools run by the RSS viz. Vidya Bharathi.
Drona was the puranic symbol, claiming
supremacy over others as per varnashra
dharma. When Ekalaiva approached Drona to
become his student to learn the art of archey,
Drona rejected the request stating that Ekalaiva
was a ‘Sudra’ and only ‘Shatriyas’ could learn
archery. But Ekalaiva learned archery on his
own by considering Drona as ‘manaseega
(notional) guru’ and excelled in the art. Drona
who trained Arjuna in the art, after coming to
know the talent of Ekalaiva, wanted to eliminate
him to avoid his probable competition with
Arjuna. On knowing Ekalaiva had learned the
art, by considering himself as guru (actually
Drona did not teach the art of archery to
Ekalaiva) asked from him to cut his (Ekalaiva)
thumb and present to him as gurudakshana.
For the performance of art of archery, among
the fingers in the hand, thumb is vital and very
much required. It thumb is cut, Ekalaiva cannot
perform his art successfully and the probability
of Ekalaiva becoming competitor to Arjuna
would be ruled out Ekalaiva with high respect for
his manaseega (notional) guru Drona, obeyed,
cut his thumb and offered it as gurudakshana.
With this the cunning and deceitful agenda
Drona got his scheme accomplished. How can
such a puranic character, Drona be glorified
and taught to students as value education. This
sort of ‘Drona Syndrome’ like glorification are
finding their place in the changed curriculum
in the text books of Vidya Bharati, the schools
run by RSS.
The Vidya Bharati text books were designed to
promote bigotry and religious fanaticism in the
name of inculcating knowledge of culture in the
young generation.
Another strategic approach adopted by the
saffronists was establishing Vidya Bharati in
different names in different States based on the
socio-political situations.
For instance,
m In New Delhi, they are called Hindu Shiksha
Samit;
The Modern RationalistJuly 2019m In Punjab, they are called Shiksha Vikas
Samit (Educational Development Council)
and Sarv Hitkari Shiksha Samiti (Education
Council for Universal benefit);
m In Jharkhand, they are called Vananchal
Shiksha Samti;
m In Kerala, they are called Vyasa Vidya Peetam
(in Kallekkadu, near Palakkad). There are
now 174 such schools. Of these, 120 are
Saraswati Shishu Vidyalayas imparting
instruction only up to Class IV. The rest
of the schools are called Bharatiya Vidya
Niketans, teaching Classes VII to XII. None
of these schools is recognized by the State
Government, and students are presented
for State-level of CBSE examination as
private candidates;
m In Tamil Nadu, they are called Tamil Kalvi
Kazhagam and Vivekananda Vidyalayas;
and
m In Odisha, they are called Saraswati Shishu
Mandirs.
These are all the foundation laid down during
the BJP regime (1999-2004). During the Modi
regime I (2014-2019), the education coming
under the fold of Hindutva was reinforced with
policy frame work on Education. In the current
Modi regime the draft of National Education
Policy 2019 has been released as formal frame
work to proceed further. The core message of
one nation, one culture, one language, one legal
code etc and its advocacy has been spelt out in
a routine way making the mass for their simple
meek.
The educational elites and intellectuals who
possess concern for the nation have to realise
about the influence of Hindutva in Education.
The political parties are much worried about
their survival, comforts to their cadres with
formal concern on the causes that would affect
the people in the longer run.
Better the move of saffronisation in education
be arrested enabling the children to undergo
education in the real sense that is required for a
Secular nation like India!