Row over change of Morarji school tagline, based on Kuvempu’s work, without official order

BENGALURU: Months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress government in the state courted another controversy by changing the tagline for the Morarji Desai residential schools which was borrowed from a work of poet-laurate Kuvempu, titled ‘Baagilolu Kai Mugidu Olage Baa Yaatrikane’.

The tagline ‘Jnana Degulavidu, Kai Mugidu Baa’ (roughly translated into ‘Come in to the temple of learning with folded hand’) has been ‘Jnana Degulavidu, Dhairyavagi Prashnisi’ (Raise questions in the temple of learning without fear’).

The change in tagline was made based on a Telegram group chat.

After Public TV broadcast the issue, BJP leaders raised the issue in the Assembly, demanding a discussion. However, Speaker U T Khader said the matter could be taken up tomorrow.

Opposition leader R Ashoka raising the issue in the Assembly on Monday.

The change was made at many schools in the districts even before an official order was issued, merely on the instruction of Social Welfare Department Principal Secretary P Manivannan last month, apparently as the latter part of the tagline (Kai Mugidu Baa) denoted servitude.

The tagline was initially adopted to inculcate a sense of respect and devotion among the residential schoolchildren. But, of late, there had been discussion at the official level to change it and was even discussed in their Telegram group. Finally, on the advice of Manivanna, the authorities went ahead and changed the tagline at the schools.

The original tagline was restored at the Morarji school in Ghalapuji.

Vijayapura Deputy Director Pundalik Manavara reasoned that the objective behind the move was to kindle a sense of questioning among the children without fear. “I have not received any official communication, but the tagline in two schools were changed based on the message shared by the principal in a Telegram group”.

However, within hours of the issue being telecast on Public TV, the original tagline was restored at the Morarji Desai residential school at Ghalapuji in Muddebihal taluk of Vijayapura district. Principal Dundappa said, “The gagline was changed based on the oral instruction of the principal secretary, but now the original tagline has been restored”.

The changed tagline at a school in Ballari district.

In Ballari, department official Satish said the change in tagline came to his notice only today. “There is no information about why it was done. We will collect information from the principals and forward a report to the Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society (KREIS). It is not to insult the teaching fraternity”, he said.

In Chikkamagalur district, the tagline was changed in 31 of the 36 schools. The principal of the school in Raichur, Kalpana S Biradar too confirmed that the change was made before any official order was issued. The tagline was changed in the schools at Maski and at Adavibhavi in Lingasugur too.

Reacting to the issue, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi questioned what was wrong with the earlier tagline. “This is the stupidity of the government and this move shows they have taken it to the heights of appeasement. This is also an insult to Kuvempu. According to the Congress, was Kuvempu not secular? It is very clear the the Congress party and the Congress government are anti-Hindu”.

Former CM Basavaraj Bommai, said, “Schools are centres of learning and it’s okay for children to raise questions. But the government should not plant the seeds of conflit in the minds of children. The Congress is trying to gain political dividend by promoting conflict.

BJP MLA Kota Srinivas Poojary said, “Perhaps the Congress government has objection to the word indicating folded hands. Changing the words from Kuvempu’s work shows a demented mentality and we condemn it”. Party MLA Bharat Shetty condemned the change and said, “The government is promoting Left-leaning thoughts. The government should initiate action against the officials responsible”.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar speaking to media persons outside Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister said the Congress had given due respect to Kuvempu and promoted the thought of ‘Sarva Janangada Shantiya Thota’ (garden of peace). “The BJP has no work and that is why they are trying to find such mistakes. They don’t think about people’s livelihood, but only about sentiments to destroy society”.

He also claimed that he would check on the issue of change in the school tagline. “Of course you have to fold your hands when you enter a temple. What’s wrong in it? The state’s second Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah, who was instrumental in the construction of the Vidhana Soudha, had said ‘Government’s Work is God’s Work’, which is inscribed on the Vidhana Soudha. That is why people facing difficulties come here”.

Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa gave a vague reply to the issue.

Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa, responding to questions, said, “We are not litterateurs, why should we change Kuvempu’s writings? To raise questions is a Constitutional right. To fold hands, is Kuvempu’s writing, why should we change it?”