A controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu over a religious speech in a government school during Teachers’ Day (5 September 2024). A spiritual speaker invited to a government school in Chennai on the occasion of Teachers’ Day talked about reincarnation and karma in his lecture, which started a debate on social media. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has also given his reaction as the controversy escalated.
Actually, on the occasion of Teachers’ Day on September 5, Mahavishnu of Paramporul Foundation was invited as a motivational speaker in a government school in Mylapore area. During his lecture, the speaker talked about the topics of sins and deeds of past life. After the video of the speech went viral on social media, people are criticizing it. Many people held the school administration and Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh responsible. Seeing the controversy growing, CM MK Stalin has also given his reaction.
What did the speaker say, after which the controversy escalated?
Speaker Mahavishnu in his speech said that Gurukuls were systematically destroyed by the British. He said that by merely reciting a mantra fire can be showered, the body can be healed and you can fly, but all these secrets which were written on palm leaves were lost due to the British rule. He further said, “If God was kind, everyone would be born equal. One is born rich while the other poor. One is born a criminal while the other a hero. Why such differences? What did you do in your previous birth, that you got this birth.”
School employee protested
A school employee objected to the speaker’s comments. He said that you were invited as a motivational speaker, not for a spiritual discourse. This led to a heated argument between the speaker and the employee.
What did Chief Minister MK Stalin say?
Commenting on the controversy, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasised on ‘scientific thinking’, saying he has ordered the formulation of guidelines in various programmes organised in schools to ensure that progressive ideas are incorporated in studies. “Science is the path to progress,” he asserted.
Congress MP demanded action
Congress’ Karur MP Jothimani condemned the incident on Twitter, tagged minister Anbil Mahesh and demanded action. “Shocked to know that this happened in a government school,” he tweeted. “This will undermine all efforts of the government to fight the ideology. The government must take action against all those who invited and allowed him to speak against scientific temper, which is the basic foundation of our education system, and humiliate the teacher who asked the right question,” he wrote. However, the school administration is yet to react to the controversy or clarify its stand on the incident.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)