Socialising through Saffron Texts: An Analysis of Ekal Vidyalayas / Abhiyan in Assam

The essay attempts to analyse two reference books of ‘Ekal Vidyalaya’ in upper Assam, a school operated by the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangha. The Ekal Vidyalayas are part of a larger social movement called ‘Ekal Abhiyan’ that aims to bring overall development in tribal dominated areas. These schools are not mainstream; instead, they act as an alternative school for students who belong to underprivileged backgrounds. The students (mostly lower and upper primary) enrolled under government schools are encouraged to join these schools to get help with their lessons. Apart from the regular help with lessons, the school functions under a distinctive Hindutva ideology of inculcating Hindu ways of life. The reference books distributed to students are part of this larger ideology. The curriculum and pedagogy are designed under ‘panchmukhi Shiksha,’ the five-tier education system borrowed from ancient Hindu religious texts. This essay investigates the gender dimension of the curriculum by analysing reference books, and interviews conducted among teachers and the school’s management.