Baba Gorakhnath now in govt school syllabus
GORAKHPUR : From the academic session starting this July, children in government-run schools will study lessons on some great personalities including Nath sect deity Baba Gorakhnath, Nath sect saint Baba Gambhirnath, freedom fighters Bandhu Singh and Rani Avanti Bai, and warrior brothers Aalha-Udal among others who, till now, were missing from school syllabus despite their historic significance.
The move comes after Yogi Adityanath, who served five times as the Gorakhpur MP before being elevated to the post of the UP chief minister, gave directions to the Basic Shiksha Department to includes chapters on the great personalities who had been “neglected” under the previous regimes in the state.
Yogi is the chief priest of the Gorakhnath temple, a prominent centre of faith and devotion in eastern UP, where Baba Gorakhnath is worshipped by lakhs of devotees.
Basic Shiksha Adhikari Bhupendra Narayan Singh said, “This time, some changes have been introduced in textbooks, which will soon be distributed among school children studying in Classes 1 to 8. Jeevani (life story) of Guru Gorakhnath has been added as chapter 6 in the Class 6 book titled ‘Mahan Vyaktitva’ (great personalities ). Likewise, chapters on Gambhirnath, Bandhu Singh, Avanti Bai, Veer Alha, have been added in other books to be taught in Classes 1 to 8.” The chapter on Bandhu Singh includes how the ‘guerrilla’ fighter, a staunch devotee of ‘Ma Tarkulha’, fought against the British and was publicly hanged at Gorakhpur’s Alinagar crossing on August 12, 1857.
Similarly, the story of Bundelkhand’s warrior brothers Aalha-Udal has also been introduced to inspire children.
Rani Avanti Bai, queen of Madhya Pradesh who resisted the British after her husband King Vikramaditya’s death, will also feature in the curriculum.
The new textbooks have attractive colours and a QR code, which can be scanned to view digital formats of chapters on mobile phones. Over eight lakh books have arrived in Gorakhpur for distribution in model primary and upper primary schools, where the session commences from July 2, said the BSA.
“The aim behind including the new chapters is to let the younger generation know about these great personalities who had earlier failed to find a place in books. It will help the students become good citizens by learning about their teachings and inspiring life stories,” said Singh.
He said that along with the new textbooks, bags, shoes and uniforms would also be made available for students by July 15.