December 25 will be dedicated to commemorating the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpaye, says the rder issued by the state’s Department of Basic Education
LUCKNOW — The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that schools across the state will remain open on December 25, departing from the usual practice of observing Christmas as a holiday.
According to the order issued by the state’s Department of Basic Education on December 22, December 25 will be dedicated to commemorating the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, marking the conclusion of his birth centenary year.
Instead of a public holiday for Christmas, schools have been directed to organise special programmes honouring the former Prime Minister , making attendance mandatory for all students.
The move was reportedly influenced by a memorandum submitted by Bajrang Dal members in Saharanpur, demanding that the day be celebrated as “Bal Gaurav (child pride) and Good Governance,” rather than the Christian holiday.
The memorandum, led by former Bajrang Dal state convenor Vikas Tyagi and former chief Kapil Mohada, even called for action against schools celebrating Christmas, and asked the education department to issue orders preventing Christmas celebrations.
They urged schools in UP to teach students “Indian values” on the day, including organising poetry recitations featuring Vajpayee’s speeches and essay competitions to mark the birth centenary.
They asserted that the birth anniversaries of educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya and Vajpayee should be celebrated on December 25 rather than that of Jesus Christ.
Though the official holiday calendar of the education department declared December 25 as “Christmas Day,” the BJP-led state government’s issued new order, ignoring the festival. The move highlights the growing trend of marginalisation of Christian communities in the state.
Meanwhile, the All India Christian Council condemned the move of the BJP-led UP government terming it as “deliberate targeting of the most sacred day in the Christian calendar.”
Secretary General of the All India Christian Council and human rights activist Dr John Dayal, in a statement, said “The Uttar Pradesh government, run by a deeply religious person, is keeping all schools in the state open on Christmas, celebrated globally for the birth of Jesus Christ. This deliberate targeting of the most sacred day in the Christian calendar is part of a sustained campaign of marginalisation that has intensified under the present regime.”
John Dayal said that the Christian community in India is facing a hate campaign to an alarming proportion.
“The hate campaign has been so severe that if you step out of the house, in your locality, in your area, wherever you live, some lunatic influenced by this hate campaign can come and do you damage. That is what targeted hate does,” Dayal said.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) also condemned the alarming rise in alleged attacks on Christians during the festive season, stating that it “gravely undermines” India’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and the right to live and worship without fear.
“The CBCI condemns these hateful acts in the strongest possible terms and urges state government and the Union Governments to take urgent, visible action against all individuals and organisations spreading hatred and violence,” they said.
