Uttar Pradesh Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay has drawn criticism for his assertion that popular English nursery rhymes, including “Johny Johny Yes Papa” and “Rain Rain Go Away,” contravene Indian cultural values by allegedly teaching children to lie and fostering selfishness.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the minister made these remarks earlier this week during an event in Kanpur organized to honor ‘Siksha Mitras.’ He emphasized that education’s role extends beyond teaching to nurturing future generations and instilling moral values.
“It is a small thing, but the path from education to becoming a teacher is very difficult. When you become a teacher, you are shaping the future generations and building the nation. But where will values come from?” Upadhyay stated, underscoring the importance of moral education.
The minister specifically targeted the rhyme “Johny Johny Yes Papa,” expressing dismay that parents encourage their children to recite it without considering its underlying message. He elaborated on the rhyme’s progression: “Johny Johny yes papa, eating sugar? No Papa. Telling lies? No Papa.” He concluded that this sequence teaches children dishonesty and trivializes important aspects of life.
Similarly, Upadhyay voiced objections to “Rain Rain Go Away.” He interpreted the rhyme, which goes, “Rain rain go away, come again another day, Little Johny wants to play,” as promoting individual desires over collective well-being. He contrasted this with Indian cultural tenets, citing the principle of “Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya” (for the welfare of all, for the happiness of all) and rejecting the notion of “Swantah Sukhay” (self-pleasure) as contrary to the nation’s ethos.
The minister, who is a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader representing the Agra South Assembly constituency since 2012 and has secured victory in the 2017 and 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, articulated that Indian culture prioritizes communal welfare and ecological harmony over personal convenience.
Reacting to Upadhyay’s statements, the Samajwadi Party (SP) accused the BJP of raising such issues to divert public attention from its perceived failures over the past nine years. SP spokesperson Sharvendra Bikram Singh suggested that the ruling party, lacking substantive achievements to highlight, resorts to discussing peripheral matters.
“They (BJP) did nothing in the past nine years. As they have nothing to tell to the people, they raise such issues,” Singh commented, implying that the minister’s remarks were a political tactic to obscure the government’s performance record.
The controversy highlights a broader discussion on the influence of cultural content on children and the perceived alignment of traditional educational materials with contemporary Indian values.
The Chenab Times News Desk