16Jun02dch2


DECCAN HERALD		Sunday, June 16, 2002

Aim is to Indianise edn: Venkaiah BANGALORE, June 15 (DHNS)

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Venkaiah Naidu today denied that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was attempting to ‘saffronise’ education system. “In fact, our objective is to ‘Indianise’ the education system, which is based on the western model,” he added.

Taking a dig at critics of the Centre’s decision to revamp education system, Mr Naidu, who was speaking at a function organised to celebrate the granting of deemed university status to Vivekananda Yoga Mahavidya-peetham (VYOMA) here, said Indian society, in general, was influenced by Western practices.

“We have a rich culture that is being lost to the onslaught of western culture. All of us think that what is relevant for western countries is suitable for Indians. But why should we ape them? I do not hesitate to say that we are Indianising education and there is nothing wrong in it,” he added.

Pointing out that whenever the Centre talked about ‘Indianising’ education system, people confused it for incorporating principles of Hinduism. “The basic problem is that Hinduism is understood as a narrow concept. Hinduism was neither invented by the BJP nor the RSS. It has been there since time immemorial. We are interpreting it in a wrong manner.

Hinduism does not signify any single religion. The term Hindu has been associated in many sectors, including the name of the country. Even our national salutation is Jai Hind. Then, does it mean that the salutation is against Muslims?” he wondered.

Mr Naidu said there were detractors of BJP, who confused the public about its policies. “Hinduism is the only religion that grants maximum freedom to its followers. The religion has come to assume political dimensions. Anything that the BJP tries to do is labelled as Hindutva. But let me make it clear that we are not forcing principles of Hinduism through education,” he said. Congratulating VYOMA for securing the status, Mr Naidu said such institutions need to be promoted. He assured to get the approach road to VYOMA developed. He also announced sanctioning Rs 10 lakh to the institution.