Muslim organisations in Rajasthan have expressed disapproval of the widespread Surya Namaskar programme that is set to take place on February 15, which is also Surya Saptami, in both government and non-government schools. The Muslim community has been asked by Jamiat-Ulema-Hind to maintain their faith and beliefs, and they have been advised not to give in to external pressure. The organisation highlights the Indian Constitution’s guarantee of the right to education while upholding one’s religious beliefs.
The mandate of the Education Department to introduce the Surya Namaskar programme in educational institutions has been challenged in a petition filed by the Rajasthan Muslim Forum. On February 14, the Rajasthan High Court scheduled time for a hearing on the case. Furthermore, memoranda contested the constitutionality of the Education Department’s Surya Namaskar directives have been submitted by district units of the Rajasthan Muslim Forum through District Collectors.
Surya Namaskar was made mandatory in 2015 as well, got challenged
In 2015, the BJP government led by Vasundhara Raje mandated that yoga and Surya Namaskar be practised in all educational institutions. Muslim organisations then petitioned the court, claiming that the directives violated the Constitution’s protection of religious freedom and amounted to unjustified interference in matters of faith. Later, on June 29, 2015, the Rajasthan Education Department changed its order in response to court intervention, giving students the freedom to choose whether or not to perform Surya Namaskar and yoga.
Criticism and speculations of election-related agenda
The timing of these directives has drawn criticism, especially in the run-up to elections. The Indian Constitution’s principle of secularism must be upheld by the government, according to Abdul Wahid Khatri, state general secretary of Jamiat-Ulema-Hind-Rajasthan. He criticised attempts by certain ideological groups to use unlawful means to force their religious views on others, without specifically mentioning the BJP. Khatri asserted that these directives are opposite to democratic principles, politically motivated, and intended to placate particular demographics before elections.
Khatri went on to stress the need for legal action in cases where governments disobey their constitutional obligations. He recalled the legal struggle in 2015 against the Vasundhara Raje government’s similar unconstitutional acts, pointing out the Supreme Court’s and several High Courts’ interventions in defending religious freedoms. He also said, “When the government deliberately does wrong, we have no option other than the court. On Monday, February 12th, our hearing could not be held. The court fixed the date of hearing on14th. Who knows, the hearing may not take place tomorrow also. Therefore, we have appealed to all the Muslim parents to boycott the Surya Namaskar program on February 15 by not sending their children to school.”
The state executive meeting of Jamiat Ulema-Hind, a traditional Indian Muslim organisation, has approved an initiative denouncing the government’s directive for a communal Surya Namaskar in government schools. According to Jamiat, the government’s orders amount to open interference in religious affairs and obvious mockery of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of religion, as well as rulings from the nation’s Supreme Court and numerous High Courts.
Following a discussion at the state-level Jamiat Ulema-Hind meeting, it was stated that Surya is regarded as a god or deity in most Hindu societies. The verses recited during this practice, along with exercises like Ashtanga Namaskar and Pranamasana, are acts of worship, and Islam forbids the worship of gods other than Allah. The Muslim community is unable to accept this in any manner or situation.
Memorandum submitted to the Governor
The community has sent a memorandum to the District Collector in the name of the Governor, highlighting the secular nature of our nation, under the direction of Engineer Khurshid Hussain, convenor of the Muslim Forum Sikar. They emphasised that initiatives regarding to the prayers of any specific religion are forbidden by the Constitution for governments to take on.
In spite of this, orders requiring the implementation of Surya Namaskar in all educational institutions were issued by the Rajasthan School Education Council on January 30, 2024, and the Office of the Director of Education Department on February 1st and 2nd, 2024. The community demanded an immediate prohibition on such orders because they believed this action went against the spirit and provisions of the Indian Constitution. Officials from a number of Muslim organisations, including Mustafa Khan, Ahsan Ali Gaur, Usman Ghani, Salimuddin Kachhav, Amiruddin Tagala, and Mohammad Arif, supported the memorandum.
The Rajasthan Muslim Youth Forum has filed a petition in the High Court, according to Nazimuddin, the State President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. He claimed that the government’s directive violates the principles of the constitution and is an attack on the right to freedom of religion. As the Constitution states, no religion may be forced to accept the worship traditions of another. Nazimuddin focused on this point. Moreover, he highlighted that this directive runs counter to Islamic beliefs since Muslims are required to worship only Allah. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is strongly against this arbitrary directive from the Department of Education.
As per the inputs from The Mooknayak
by Swapnil Angel Samad
