“Discrimination against minorities” – is what the opposition started chanting, after December 25 was announced as “Good Governance Day” by Union human resource development ministry in order to observe the birthdays of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Hindu Mahasabha leader Madan Mohan Malviya.
This move has upset over 24 million Christians population in the country – who also celebrate the Christmas on December 25, the move has been made.
The BJP government wants the schools to carry out various activities, like an essay competition, so that students’ participation increases – the schools have also been asked to send a report on the activities conducted the same day by evening.
Although CBSE and private schools have not been communicated with yet, the Union government-run Navodaya Vidyalayas have issued a circular to their schools. The Navodaya schools operate in rural areas on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas, and are affiliated to CBSE which is under the control of Union HRD ministry.
The Circular States
The Navodaya circular says CBSE will be organizing an essay competition on December 24 and 25, the topics for which will be declared on December 23.
The circular also says as part of its ‘Expression Series’, CBSE will organize essay competitions on good governance, asking schools to “encourage” the participation of students in the competition. “You are requested to ensure that Good Governance day is celebrated in all JNVs under your region,” the circular states, while also seeking a “consolidated report” on activities carried out in this regard
The essay competition will be held separately for standards I-V, standards VI-VIII and standards IX-X.
Navodaya commissioner GS Bothyal has asked schools to conduct quiz competitions, screen documentaries on best practices in good governance and perform other related activities on Christmas.
Schools are required to submit their best performances both online and offline – the same day. The best 36 entries will be awarded Rs 2,500 and a certificate.
No- Holiday No- Christmas
Ministry officials, claim December 25 will not be a working day for students and that the essay competition will be online. They also claim all activities are voluntary.
While the Christmas holiday for Navodaya schools has not been revoked, the activities that they are required to conduct and report on,effectively means they won’t have a Christmas holiday as they cannot afford to disobey a circular from the center.
Adhering to the ministry’s plan will also throw the schools’ vacation schedule off-course. Almost all CBSE schools in the country start their winter vacations from either December 23 or 24. CBSE is expected to make an announcement on the matter soon.
A senior CBSE official said that asking schools to remain open on Christmas Day would be tricky, especially if they are Christian schools. “I have been told about December 24 and that is still being worked out. Schools have not been informed anything yet,” the official added.
Smriti Irani Justifies
HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Monday rubbished media reports that the Narendra Modi government has decided to keep CBSE and Navodaya schools open on Christmas to celebrate ‘Good Governance Day’. The minister has claimed that no such directive has been given to any school.
Smriti Irani tweeted on Monday morning saying, “Deliberate mischief by ur reporter on the front page today. All schools closed for XMas, essay competition only online.” The Minister also slammed the media house in her tweet for misreporting the facts.
The opposition drive
The CPI (M) and the Janata Dal United JD (U) on Monday criticized the government for making December 25 ‘good governance day’.
In a statement, CPI (M) has termed the decision to ask schools to observe good governance day on December 25 “offensive and unjustifiable”. “This is a crude interference in the schedule of schools which go on Christmas vacation from December 24 and is an assault on the religious right of the Christian community,” it says, demanding the withdrawal of this “communally motivated instruction”.
Meanwhile, JDU leader Ali Anwar opposing the move said, “It’s a design of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); they are purposely selecting major days and making it important for themselves, by doing this they will embarrass the entire country and we will strongly oppose it”, he added.
Whichever way one may view the circular and the subsequent clarification, he move effectively erodes the balanced approach to minority sentiments and customs built over the years, since December 25 is the most important day of the year in the Indian christian calendar as it is in the rest of the world.
