Amid teacher crunch, this Odisha school turns to Vedic chants to instill values in students

At a time when children are increasingly drifting away from spirituality and traditional values, a government school in Odisha’s Balasore district has taken an unusual yet impactful route to shape young minds. At Phulamani Vidyapitha in Tigiria under Basta block, the school day begins not with textbooks, but with Vedic chanting, Hanuman Chalisa recitation and a shloka from the Bhagavad Gita.

Every morning, the prayer assembly resonates with chants as students gather after offering prayers to Lord Jagannath. The practice was introduced by the school’s newly appointed headmaster, who believes that early exposure to spiritual discipline can help students grow into responsible, value-driven individuals.

“Children these days are becoming detached from spirituality and leaning heavily towards modern distractions. Most no longer take interest in reading the Gita, Bhagavat or other scriptures. So, we have introduced this daily routine to cultivate faith, discipline and good values,” the school headmaster said.

After the morning chants, students apply a sandalwood tilak and proceed to their classrooms. The school also conducts yoga sessions every Saturday, ensuring that pupils receive not only academic lessons but also physical and mental training.

“We are taught about our culture and spirituality at our school. Once we reach school, we assemble for prayer. First we recite Hanuman Chalisa, then Gita,” said Baishali a student.
 
Despite being a block-grant one, the school has no teacher other than the headmaster. However, the institution continues to function smoothly due to the dedication of headmaster Dillip Kumar Bhuyan. With no other full-time teacher on the rolls, Bhuyan manages administrative work alongside teaching students of three classes. More than 90 students from Class 8 to 10 are enrolled in the school.

In response to requests from the headmaster and parents, three retired teachers from the locality volunteer their time to teach the children. Their involvement has kept the learning process intact despite the staff shortage.

Beyond spiritual and academic lessons, the school encourages students to participate in activities such as tree plantation within the campus after school hours, an effort aimed at building responsibility and environmental awareness.

Parents say the transformation in their children is visible. Many students, too, expressed their desire to become good human beings, not just successful ones, echoing the values being inculcated through the school’s unique approach.

“This is a very unique initiative by the headmaster. This has helped spirituality to develop among the student. Such measures should be implemented in other schools,” said Ajay Kumar Jena, a teacher.

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At a time when society is increasingly driven by material pursuits, Phulamani Vidyapitha stands out for nurturing not just educated students, but well-rounded individuals grounded in culture, discipline and humanity.