Uttar Pradesh Schools to Remain Open on Christmas for Vajpayee's Centenary

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to keep schools open on Christmas to commemorate the birth centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, leading to significant backlash from Christian organizations. The directive mandates student attendance and encourages schools to hold events in honor of Vajpayee, coinciding with demands from the Bajrang Dal to celebrate December 25 as 'Good Governance Day.' Critics argue this move marginalizes the Christian community and undermines the secular principles of public education. The decision follows similar controversies in Kerala, where schools have also faced pressure to halt Christmas celebrations. This situation raises concerns about the increasing influence of religious groups in educational settings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 24, 2025, 18:32 IST

Schools Open for Vajpayee's Birth Centenary

The government of Uttar Pradesh has declared that schools will remain operational on Christmas Day, Thursday, to honor the centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as reported by a local news outlet.

A directive from the Basic Education Department mandates that student attendance is compulsory on this day. Schools are instructed to conduct speeches, cultural events, and activities to commemorate Vajpayee.

This order affects both government primary and upper primary institutions across the state and aligns with the conclusion of the official celebrations marking the birth centenary of the BJP leader.

The decision reportedly follows requests from the Hindutva group Bajrang Dal in Saharanpur, advocating for December 25 to be recognized as “Bal Gaurav [Child Pride] and Good Governance Day” instead of Christmas.

Good Governance Day, initiated in 2014 by the then newly elected government led by Narendra Modi, is celebrated annually on December 25 to honor Vajpayee’s birth anniversary.

A memorandum from the Bajrang Dal urged action against schools that observe Christmas and requested the Basic Education Department to issue guidelines prohibiting such celebrations.

The group asserted that educational institutions should focus on imparting “Indian values” and suggested organizing poetry recitations of Vajpayee’s works, speeches, and essay contests instead of Christmas festivities.

They proposed that December 25 should celebrate the birth anniversaries of educationist Madan Mohan Malaviya and Vajpayee rather than the birth of Jesus Christ.

This decision to forgo a Christmas holiday has faced backlash, with Christian organizations and activists arguing that it marginalizes their community and threatens the secular nature of public education.

John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council and a member of the National Integration Council, expressed that the shift from a traditional holiday to commemorative events is a targeted attack on a significant day in the Christian calendar.

Dayal remarked that this decision illustrates a growing trend of marginalization against the Christian community under the current administration, fostering an atmosphere of fear.

Nihal Nazim, a teacher in Moradabad district, emphasized that school calendars should reflect a balance between national commemorations and respect for diverse cultural and religious traditions.

The cancellation of the Christmas holiday in Uttar Pradesh follows reports from Kerala, where schools have also ceased Christmas celebrations due to pressure from Hindutva organizations associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

The RSS is the parent organization of the ruling BJP at the national level.

Recently, the Kerala government warned that schools would not be permitted to become “communal laboratories” and announced an urgent inquiry into the matter.

Education Minister V Sivankutty stated that the state will resist any attempts to create divisions along religious lines, accusing the RSS and its affiliates of trying to eliminate the religious practices and celebrations of Christian and Muslim minorities from the state's cultural landscape.