I-Day celebrations in madrassas in UP to be videographed

Lucknow: Hoisting of national flag, singing of national anthem, paying tributes to freedom fighters and martyrs and programmes held on the occasion of Independence Day tomorrow in madrassas across the state will be videographed and photographed perhaps for the first time. According to UP Minority Welfare Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary this will inspire students and they will learn more about the contributions of freedom fighters, though the order has not gone down well with a section of Muslim clerics.

"Children can treasure the memories of Independence Day celebrations through photographs and videos which will also act as a source of inspiration for others. Unlike the previous governments, which indulged in politics of appeasement, we are a government with nationalist bent of mind," he said. "Every citizen born in India celebrates different festivals ranging from Holi, Diwali, Eid and Lohri. But when it comes to national festivals, they are celebrated by the entire nation. And, the madrassas should not exclude themselves from participating in the national festivals," he said.

The Minister said that today is an era of technology.

"The videos made during the Independence Day can be shared among the students. They can treasure the memories of the Independence Day celebrations. Apart from this, it will act as a source of inspiration for others," he said.

At present, around 8,000 madrassas in UP are recognised by the government body UP Madrassa Shiksha Parishad. Among these, 560 are fully aided by the state.

To a question as to what prompted the government to issue the order to the madrassas, Chaudhary said, "Directives were issued as the government recognised that madrassas get funds from the state government and are supposed to celebrate the national festivals including Independence Day."