The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced it had withdrawn a circular, issued the previous day, that asked education departments and libraries to purchase copies of the Urdu version of the Gita and Kashmiri version of Ramayan for introduction in schools, colleges and libraries.
On Monday, the Jammu and Kashmir government had issued a circular calling for the purchase of Gita and Koshur (Kashmiri) Ramayan by the school education department, higher education department and libraries to make them available in schools, colleges and public libraries.
“Circular issued by the education department regarding the introduction of some religious books stands withdrawn ab initio under the orders of the chief secretary,” Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a tweet.
The decision to introduce the Hindu religious books was conveyed to director, school education, by under-secretary to government, school education department, in a letter.
The letter stated, “In a meeting chaired by the adviser to the governor on 4th October, the following decision has been taken with respect to school education. The school education department, higher education department, director (colleges), director (libraries) and cultural department will consider purchasing sufficient number of copies of Urdu version of Shrimad Bhagwat Gita and Koshur (Kashmiri version) of Ramayan authored by Shri Saryanand Premi for making these available in schools, colleges and public libraries etc. of the state.”
Omar Abdullah, former chief minister and NC working president, questioned the motive behind the move to introduce the Gita and Ramayan. ''Why just Gita and Ramayan?'' Omar wrote on Twitter, further arguing, “If religious texts are to be placed in schools, colleges and government libraries (and I'm not convinced that they need/should be), then why is it being done selectively? Why are other religions being ignored.''
The move to introduce the Ramayan and Gita could have evoked reactions from separatists and other Kashmir-based political parties as well. Many had deemed the move as an attempt by the BJP to saffronise education in the Muslim majority state.
Interestingly, Premi's son, Rajender Premi, criticised Abdullah for objecting to the introduction of the Kashmiri version of Ramayan in schools and colleges.
“My father worked for years to complete the writing of the Kashmiri translation of Ramayan for the people of Kashmir,” he said. “What is there to protest about? He even translated some verses of Quran also.”
