Should December 25 be celebrated as good governance day?
Should December 25 be celebrated as good governance day?
The Union government has proposed to celebrate former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday on 25th Decemeber as ‘Good Governance Day.’ The BJP government wants the CBSE schools and higher educational institutions to organize various activities like essay competition on December 25 to make it a special day. December 25 is also celebrated in India and worldwide as Christmas Day. Do you think the Union HRD Ministry has taken a wise decision? Should December 25 be celebrated as good governance day?
Yes
• Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is a man who was even respected by the opposition parties. Former PM Manmohan Singh called him the "Bheeshm Pitamah of Indian politics."
• Atal Bihari Vajpayee had an impressive political life with numerous commendable accomplishments and statesmanship. Some of the accomplishments include Kargil victory, Lahore summit, nuclear test and many others. His birthday deserves the celebration.
• There will be no official work on the day. The day will be made special by conducting various activities at school and college levels.
• Even the higher education institutes are made a part of the day. The day will focus on the role of technology in promoting good governance.
• BJP government wants to highlight the significance of good governance in its tenure, and the day will mark its importance among students.
No
• Celebrating a BJP leader birthday and making it a governance day will pave way for political drama in the nation.
• The good governance day should be celebrated some other day as it will reduce the significance of Christmas Day.
• December 25 or Christmas Day is celebrated as a national holiday and making it a working day for schools and other institutions is not justified.
• Celebrating good governance day on Christmas day will hurt the sentiments of Christian people who will feel outcast from the nation.
• Modi government is ignoring the needs of bureaucrats who even have the right to spend quality time with family.
Conclusion
Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had remained a parliamentarian for more than four decades. There is no doubt that he has contributed significantly in making of BJP party and even in Indian politics. He deserves respect but it should not come at a cost of hurting other people. The good governance day can be celebrated on some other day as a mark of respect to former PM but clashing it with a national religious holiday will attract criticism from opposition and the specific community.
Discussion
- RE: Should December 25 be celebrated as good governance day? -Deepa Kaushik (12/18/14)
- Very well concluded, the ex-PM definitely deserves an applause for his work during his tenure. But, that should in no way interfere with the sentiments of other people. In this case the day is selected as on the Christmas Eve, which might call for religious agitation across the country.
The other way round, the Union Ministry wants the day to be celebrated in schools and colleges with activities. Competition and activities require preparation and learning task for the students. The day which used to be a holiday for their enjoyment, no student will welcome such a move to add on to their work load in the form of competition. And for a student from the Christian community, it would be the most disappointing step. Running the educational institutions means a full working day for the teachers and staff as well. It would be unfair to make a group of people work on a festive occasion.
The next aspect is calling the day as "Good Governance Day". If the ministry wants to honour their ex-PM for his literary works only, then the selection of name is not apt. And in case they want to express the good governance of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then the celebration should not be confined to educational institutions alone. It should be more appropriately celebrated by the Government and the officials.
To be specific, the Union Ministry needs to be clear in their decision for the things that they wish to honour the ex-PM for and then select the appropriate name and place for the celebration. Undoubtedly the day should be changed which would not affect the sentiments on anyone
