'Teachings of Vivekananda should be part of school curriculum'

Advani's demand came after Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandi announced that teachings of Sree Narayan Guru would be part of the school syllabus in the state from 2013 onwards.

A 'yogi' and 'siddha', Narayan Guru was revered by Mahatma Gandhi for his unrelenting crusade against untouchability and casteism.

"It would elevate the level of school studies if the teachings and ideals of saints like Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda are part of the normal curriculum," Advani wrote on his blog.

Lamenting that religious teachings are considered taboo, he said, "It is indeed unfortunate that in Indian schools, the teaching of history is almost entirely focused on kings, their dynasties, their wars and exploits."

"The remarkable contributions of our sages and seers are generally kept away from children, and often on the plea that in a secular state anything to do with religion is taboo. This is an absurd approach."

Advani said he had urged Union Minister Vyalar Ravi to ensure that Kerala's initiative is emulated by the Centre and other states.

"What the Kerala state has done and what I urge should be done by educational institutions all over the country is something that would raise the Spiritual Quotient also of all our countrymen," he said, adding this would help students imbibe ethical and moral values.

He said educational institutions would be rendering significant service to the country "if they succeeded in evolving an educational system which could become the man-making machinery Swami Vivekananda had talked about!".