Tamil Nadu: A wave of protests has erupted in Chennai as members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Students Federation of India (SFI) questioned the Education Department over controversial ‘spiritual awakening classes’ held in government schools. The protests came after it was revealed that an NGO had conducted spiritual sessions at a government girls’ higher secondary school, sparking outrage among the public, parents and education activists.
The controversy started when a speaker named Mahavishnu was invited to deliver a lecture on “self-confidence” to students. However, the session soon took an unexpected turn, with Mahavishnu focusing more on spiritual topics rather than the actual subject. During the lecture, he reportedly made statements suggesting that the students’ current lives were shaped by divine forces as a result of the sins they committed in their previous lives. This comment in particular sparked widespread criticism and backlash from various quarters, including students, parents and social activists.
Following the incident, the District Chief Educational Officer ordered the principals of two government schools to provide an explanation as to how such a speaker was allowed to deliver the controversial lecture on their premises. Shanmugasundaram of Saidapet High School and Tamizharasi principals of Ashok Nagar Girls High School have been directed to submit detailed reports explaining the circumstances under which Mahavishnu was allowed to speak at their schools. The incident has raised serious concerns about the vetting and approval process for invited speakers at government schools. Critics have pointed to an apparent lack of due diligence in allowing an NGO to hold a session that strayed significantly from its intended purpose, potentially imposing specific spiritual beliefs on vulnerable young minds. Questions have been raised about who authorised the event and how the content of the lectures was not vetted.
