Undergraduate students studying philosophy in universities and colleges across Uttar Pradesh will now have access to books written by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and yoga guru Baba Ramdev. The move follows a committee’s recommendation that universities across the state implement the new National Education Policy.
According to The Print, Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), a state-run university in Meerut, has already included the books in its curriculum. As part of the second semester undergraduate philosophy curriculum, the university has included CM Yogi Adityanath’s Hathyoga Ka Swaroop va Sadhna and Baba Ramdev’s Yog Sadhna va Yog Chikitsa Rahasya.
All the books were chosen to be there because of their high academic and literary value. Some are suggested readings and some are a part of the credit-based course,” the member said on the condition of anonymity.
The state government formed the committee to look into creating a “common minimum syllabus” for all state universities and colleges in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020. All subjects, including arts, literature, humanities, and science, have suggested syllabuses.
The Steering Committee is chaired by Monika S Garg, additional chief secretary, Department of Higher Education Uttar Pradesh; Prof Poonam Tandan, Department of Physics, Lucknow University; and Prof Hare Krishna, Department of Statistics, CCS University, Meerut, among others, according to the report.
The books recommended by the committee are of “high academic value,” according to DN Singh, convenor of the Board of Studies at Chaudhary Charan Singh University, who also added that the book authored by CM Yogi teaches the practical aspect of Yoga.
“We need literature like this to learn about Yoga, our ancient science. Similarly, Ramdev’s book is also a good addition for Philosophy students because he is the Yoga guru… He has taken Yoga to the masses,” Singh said.
