On the eve of Independence Day, Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal announced that the Delhi government plans to introduce a ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum in all schools from next academic year.
The government said that its Happiness Curriculum and Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum were already in place and on the same lines, the ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum would be introduced to help students become “true patriots”.
Three goals
“The ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum is aimed at achieving three important goals. First, each and every child must feel pride for the nation. Children must be taught about the glories of the country. Second, each child must be made aware of their responsibility and duty towards the country. India has a hundred problems. We are poor, our farmers commit suicide. But who will solve these problems? It is us who will have to find solutions,” the CM said.
He added that there was a need to create a sense of ownership among all children that they have to take on the challenges we are facing as a country, head on and address them. “Third, we have to instil among children the commitment to be prepared to sacrifice anything for the nation,” the CM said.
Mr. Kejriwal in his address to the students at a function organised at the Thyagaraj Stadium where the announcement was made said: “Ordinarily we are reminded of our love for the country either when there is an India-Pakistan match or when there are tensions on the border. In our day-to-day lives we forget about our country. The ‘Deshbhakti’ curriculum is being introduced so that each and every citizen of this country truly loves their country.”
He said that when our children grow older and start working, and at any point if they accept a bribe, then they must feel from within that they are betraying Bharat Mata. When they jump a traffic light, they must feel they have wronged their country.
While announcing the scheme, Mr. Kejriwal said that he and Education Minister Manish Sisodia had come up with the idea at a meeting to discuss how to take concrete steps towards building a class of patriotic citizens.
