RSS plans to open Sanskar Kendras in MP

Bhopal, Jan 29 The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) is planning to impart lessons in Hinduism by conducting classes in temples in Madhya Pradesh.

Samskrit Bharati, an RSS affiliated organisation, has been entrusted with the task in this Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state.

‘We will open Sanskar Kendras to instil our cultural values in children. Education pertaining to our culture will be given at these centres. The scheme is, however, in the initial stage’, said Laxmi Narayan Pande, secretary of the Madhya Pradesh unit of Samskrit Bharati.

Added a source close to the organisation: ‘A detailed scheme envisaging opening of at least one such school, designated ‘Samskrit Bharati Kendra’, at a temple in each district has been submitted to the state government for permission and assistance.

‘Also, of the 50,000 Samskrit Bharati members, at least 1,500 active workers have been asked to go door to door convincing people to send their children for studies at the centres once they are opened. This will also help us estimate the number of students we would be getting initially,’ the source said.

There are more than 12,000 temples looked after by the state and 9,780 priests on government rolls. It remains to be seen if these priests would be employed for the teaching job or fresh appointments would be made.

Classes at these centres will be of two hours each in the morning and evening after Aarti.

‘Classes on Hindutva would be held in various temples across the state where the students would be taught about Hindu ‘pujas’ and rituals. Studying Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata will also be part of the curriculum. The students will also learn Sanskrit and do some social service,’ said a Samskrit Bharati worker.

The proposal for religious teaching centres follows the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government’s announcement last week of a ‘yoga policy’, envisaging constitution of a council for practising yoga in the state, provision of facilities required for setting up yoga centres, selection and appointment of yoga teachers.

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