Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay has ignited a controversy by labeling two popular English nursery rhymes, 'Johnny Johnny, Yes Papa' and 'Rain Rain Go Away', as being against Indian culture and values. He argued that these rhymes teach children to lie and promote selfishness.
Minister's Remarks at School Event
Addressing teachers at a thanksgiving program at a prominent school in Lucknow on Saturday, Upadhyay criticized the rhyme 'Rain Rain Go Away' for promoting individual pleasure over collective welfare. He stated, 'Self-interest is promoted in the poem, 'Rain rain go away, come again another day, Little Johnny wants to play'. It says that rain should stop only because Johnny wants to play. What kind of values are these? An act yields joy only when it is performed selflessly, transcending self-interest. But this poem signifies 'Swantah Sukhay' (self-satisfaction) which is not our culture.'
Upadhyay emphasized that Indian culture stresses 'Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay' (welfare of all, for the happiness of all). Despite repeated attempts, he could not be reached for further comments.
Earlier Criticism of 'Johnny Johnny Yes Papa'
Earlier on May 6, Upadhyay had criticized 'Johnny Johnny, Yes Papa', claiming it teaches children to lie to their parents. He remarked, 'Parents take pride in asking their children to recite the poem without realizing the message it conveys. This poem teaches children to lie. What are we teaching our children?' He clarified on Saturday, 'It sows the seeds of lies in children during childhood. I'm not against any language or culture. I would have said the same thing had it been in Hindi or Sanskrit.'
Political Reactions
The Uttar Pradesh Congress responded on social media, saying, 'UP's higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyaya ji believes that children learn to lie from poems like 'Johnny, Johnny! Yes Papa'. A child doesn't learn to lie from poetry; a child learns to distrust the system after witnessing paper leaks. The education minister's job is not to change nursery rhymes, but to stop university crimes and corruption.'
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav posted an illustration on Upadhyay's statement and wrote on X, 'BJP members are trying to say that when they themselves constitute the world's largest 'University of Lies', why should they source study material from anywhere else? After all, the BJP possesses its very own indigenous factory for mass production of falsehood.'
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About the Author
Isha Jain: Spending over a decade and a half in reporting, she delves into the multifaceted world of education in UP, from policy changes to classroom innovations, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of students and educators alike. She also covers the crucial areas of skill development, examining how vocational training and lifelong learning initiatives prepare youth for the evolving job market.
