Two weeks ahead of the installation of Lord Ram’s idol at Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has announced a series of contests on the theme of ‘Prabhu Shri Ram’ scheduled to take place between January 10 and 17 in Mumbai’s civic schools. Despite the enthusiasm around the event, the move has faced criticism from the opposition, labeling it as an attempt to saffronize education in municipal schools.
Minister Lodha disclosed the details of the contests during a press conference, stating, “On January 22, Bhagwaan Shri Ram’s idol will be installed at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. To celebrate this event, we are organizing contests under the ‘Shriram Jeevan Charitra Spardha’ in Mumbai’s civic schools in collaboration with the BMC and some NGOs. We anticipate the participation of over two lakh students in essay writing, poetry writing, drama, and drawing contests between January 10 and 17.”
The competitions will include various themes such as ‘Shriram: Our Revered Idol and Exploring the Ramayana in My Understanding,’ ‘Creating the Shriram Temple of My Dreams,’ ‘The Defeat of Ravana and Ram Setu,’ and ‘Key Events in the Ramayana,’ among others. These contests will be conducted at individual school levels, and the BMC has allocated Rs. 54,23,000 to cover a total of 16,078 awards for various categories.
Minister Lodha’s announcement follows a letter dated December 15, 2023, in which he directed the civic body to organize competitions on the subject of ‘Prabhu Shri Ram’ between January 1 and 15 to raise awareness about “the ideals of Shri Ram and good governance.” This move has drawn criticism from opposition members, including Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh, who has written to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, urging them to stop the saffronization of education and the alleged illegal intervention of the guardian minister in administrative affairs.
Responding to the criticism, Lodha clarified that the contests are not mandatory, stating, “These contests are not compulsory. This is not a matter of religion. Ram is an adarsh purush (ideal man) and the biggest of all. The Ayodhya temple is being made as per the Supreme Court orders and through a proper committee. Anyone who wants to participate is welcome to do so.”
Additionally, Lodha announced the organization of ‘Krida Mahakumbh’ between January 26 and February 19, commemorating the 350th anniversary celebrations of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The 23-day program will feature contests on 16 to 17 traditional, desi games across 27 city grounds. The initiative will kick off on January 26 from Kurla and conclude on February 19 at the newly established sports complex in Malwani.
