Deshbhakti curriculum: Seek public opinion on patriotism, CM tells panel

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, held a meeting with the committee set up to formulate the curriculum on Deshbhakti Pathyakram. The CM directed the committee that the curriculum must instil a feeling of love and responsibility towards the country. The committee shared the suggestions taken from the children, which were conveyed to the CM. Listening to the children's suggestions, the CM said, "If our children think like this, our country has a bright future."

Suggestions from children in the context of patriotism included — "A sense of honesty towards work, humane behaviour towards animals and birds, no caste discrimination or jealousy, abiding by rules, and making India clean and healthy" — and many more.

The committee notified in the meeting that in the existing syllabus of class 1 to 12, a list of chapters is being prepared that already talk of patriotism.

The Chief Minister told the committee that the syllabus should include things that would lead to better civic and developmental sense in the coming generations. Kejriwal asked the committee to seek public opinion on patriotism and what it means to them. He said, "The common man has gotten so busy in his own life, that he has no time to think about the country. Patriotism cannot come out in an India-Pakistan match alone. For our culture, the people of our country should feel love and pride. It is our responsibility to instill the feelings in our children. We have heard stories about Japan. People are extremely helpful even to strangers.

This is patriotism and true love for the country. The significance of real education is only when all this comes to the children."