Mrigank Tiwari, TNN 1 September 2009, 09:28pm IST

ALLAHABAD: The importance of a teacher in removing narrow-mindedness from the minds of youngsters became evident recently when a group of children studying in a government primary school, who had refused to fold hands and recite the morning prayer citing religious considerations as the reason, are now reciting the prayers with folded hands and also practising `pranayam’ through her efforts.
Talking about the incident, the teacher, Neera Srivastava, at a junior high school in Lehra in Soraon block, said that recently she noticed a group of children studying in class V were not folding their hands during the morning prayers. They were also not reciting the school prayer. After the prayers were over, she asked them as to why they were not participating in the prayers. The students replied that the practice is not allowed in their religion and they cannot do it.

She brought the matter to the notice of headmistress Kuldeep Kumari, who asked her not to keep quiet over the issue. However, Srivastava decided that this is the moment when a teacher can play a role.

With this objective in mind, she invited the group for a personal interaction. She asked them, “When you can recite Jana Gana Mana and Bharat Mata Ki Jai, why can’t you recite the morning prayers which only invokes the supreme authority and has no reference to gods and goddesses of any particular religion?” She also reminded them that they are also sharing the same food in the company of other students and wearing the same dress.

The reasons put forward by the teacher had a positive impact on the group, who promised to take part in the morning prayers and follow the norms sincerely.

Kumari said, “Thanks to the efforts of the teacher, we have been able to help young minds in getting out of the shell of caste, creed and religion.”

Basic shiksha adhikari Brijesh Chandra Mishra said that such efforts are always praiseworthy.