Rajasthan minister’s ‘Shaurya Diwas’ order sparks controversy, swiftly withdrawn over exam schedule clash

The Rajasthan government’s controversial directive to observe December 6 — the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition — as ‘Shaurya Diwas’ in schools has been abruptly withdrawn, igniting fresh debate over the politicisation of education in the state.

Issued under the authority of Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar, the order instructed all public and private schools to organize educational and cultural events promoting patriotism, nationalism, and cultural pride through activities like speech and essay contests, exhibitions on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, folk performances, and yoga sessions dedicated to Lord Ram.

Schools were also asked to hold ‘Shaurya Yatras’ and invite military and social personalities to inspire students.

However, just 12 hours after issuing the circular, the Education Department retracted the order early November 30 morning, citing ongoing school examinations on December 5 and 6 as a reason for postponement. “It is not possible to conduct any other activities or events in schools during the examination period,” Minister Dilawar stated in the official withdrawal.

Despite the retraction, Dilawar doubled down on his justification for the original directive, claiming that Lord Ram symbolizes India’s cultural ideals and that the Ram Temple movement embodies the nation’s pride and unity. He insisted that educating students about this movement would instill a spirit of patriotism and national cohesion.

The abrupt reversal comes amid a backdrop of other contentious moves by the minister, including a directive to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in all schools — including madrasas — which sparked backlash from minority communities accusing the government of imposing majoritarian symbols.

Dilawar has also publicly denounced Mughal emperor Akbar as a tyrant and vowed to remove illegal religious structures from government school premises, warning of strict legal consequences for school principals in violation.

The ‘Shaurya Diwas’ order withdrawal coincided with growing unrest following a social media post by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, which touted government schemes benefiting farmers.

The post featured farmers from Jodhpur, whose lands have long suffered contamination from the polluted Jojri River — a fact critics highlighted to question the government’s claims. After widespread criticism, the post was deleted.

As Rajasthan’s education landscape remains fraught with ideological conflicts and political signaling, the latest episode underscores the challenges of balancing cultural narratives with academic priorities and communal sensitivities.