APPEAL TO MAKE MAHATMA GANDHI’S LIFE SKETCH - A SUBJECT IN SCHOOLS

N.S.Venkataraman

Trustee

NANDINI VOICE FOR THE DEPRIVED

M-60/1,4^th Cross Street,Besant Nagar,Chennai-90

India

Phone: 24916037

E-mail:nsvenkat@md4.vsnl.net.in

nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com

Web: www.nandinivoice.org

APPEAL TO MAKE

MAHATMA GANDHI’S LIFE SKETCH - A SUBJECT IN SCHOOLS

RESPONSE FROM GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Nandini Voice For The Deprived, a Chennai based NGO recently conducted quiz competition for school students studying in 9^th std to 12^th std. in Chennai  on the life sketch of Mahatma Gandhi, in the context of the Gandhi Jayanthi Day on 2^nd October 2010.

It became evident that the knowledge level of school students about Mahatma Gandhi’s life and philosophy were very poor. Students said that they have been not taught about Mahatma Gandhi in their classes at all.

This has caused lack of understanding amongst the students about the thoughts and philosophy of Father of the Nation.

Considering the fact that this is the situation in a place like Chennai city, which is a well informed place in the country, one can imagine the situation in several other parts of India and particularly in the rural areas.

It should cause considerable concern that if this state of affairs would be allowed to continue, thoughts about Mahatma Gandhi may be lost amongst the young Indians in future. Mahatma Gandhi may become a mere subject of history and the level of influence of Gandhian philosophy in the  public and private life of future citizens of India would become weak. This would be a great disservice that we would be doing to the future generation.

Mahatma Gandhi is Father of the Nation and children should be taught about Gandhiji adequately well.

Gandhian philosophy of truth and ahimsa has to be taught to the young school students and Gandhiji should be projected to them as the ultimate role model.

This can be done only by introducing life sketch of Mahatma Gandhi as a compulsory subject of study for school students, atleast in the tenth standard level all over India immediately. No time should be lost in initiating steps to do this.

Therefore, Nandini Voice For The Deprived sent an appeal to the Government of India in this regard. A reply was received from the National Council Of Educational Research And Training (NCERT) of Government of India. (Letter No.F.1-1/2009-10/DoL/422 Dt.29.11.2010)

Excerpt from the reply received from NCERT

“Children study about Gandhiji’s life and his work in History and Political Science textbooks developed by NCERT. In language and literature courses also, many lessons have been included that talk about his life and thoughts. A list of lessons which have been included in our textbooks is enclosed with this letter.

List of NCERT text books based on Gandhiji

The above reply from NCERT shows that NCERT is not interested in the suggestion to make Mahatma Gandhi’s Life Sketch as full subject in schools and seem to be satisfied by providing isolated lessons on Gandhiji in school syllabus.

It would be appropriate if Government of India and all  State Governments would announce their intention to do so  immediately and introduce the subject from next academic year onwards.

Nandini Voice For The Deprived appeals to the Government of India and State Governments to include Life Sketch of Mahatma Gandhi as compulsory and independent subject in schools, atleast for one year in 10^th std. level. The subject should be taught atleast for  two hours every week. The subject should be made compulsory and should be included for providing grades to the students in the academic year.

Thanks and regards

N.S.VENKATARAMAN