Institutions asked to hold singing competition based on the religious text

The Yogi Adityanath government has sent a directive to all the schools in Uttar Pradesh to organise singing competition based on the Bhagavad Gita.

The State’s Secondary Education Department has asked joint directors of education of all the divisions in the State to ensure that the competition is organised at the district and divisional levels.

“ I have received instructions that a singing competition based on Gita Rahasya, a book of commentary on Bhagavad Gita written by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, should be organised,” said the letter sent by Additional Chief Secretary, U.P. Secondary and Higher Education Department.

“The 10 singers or troupes which will take part in the competition should be felicitated at a State level event, organised on December 29 in honour of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, by the honourable Chief Minister.”

Tilak finds no mention

Interestingly, an official communication later made no mention of Bal Gangadhar Tilak.

“You have been directed to ensure that a competition, first at the district level, be held and names of three singers/troupe be short-listed and sent so that a similar competition may be held at the divisional level among 12 names on or before December 10,” said a letter written by Anjana Goel, joint director (education), Bareilly division, to the district education officers of the division.

According to Ms. Goel’s letter, students studying in government, government-aided and private schools of all boards can take part in the competition, whose expenses would be borne by the respective schools.

Officials said the State-level competition will be held in Lucknow on December 28.