Yogendra Upadhyaya sparked controversy on May 6 after criticising popular English nursery rhymes such as Johnny Johnny Yes Papa while speaking at a gathering of Shiksha Mitras in Kanpur. During his address at Merchant Chamber Hall, the minister argued that such rhymes do not reflect Indian cultural values and instead encourage negative habits among children, including dishonesty. His remarks triggered a wider debate over the influence of Western educational content versus traditional Indian value systems in shaping young minds.
Addressing para teachers and contractual educators at the event, Upadhyaya said modern education should not focus solely on textbooks and academic instruction but must also include moral and cultural values. Referring to India’s ancient Guru-Shishya Parampara, the minister stressed that teachers should embrace the role of gurus rather than merely functioning as instructors limited to classroom curriculum. According to him, educators can instil discipline, ethics, and cultural values among students only by respecting and reviving the traditional teacher-disciple relationship that historically existed in India.
The minister further stated that teachers need to move beyond a purely syllabus-driven education system and guide children through everyday lessons that shape character and conduct. He argued that education should help students develop values and moral understanding alongside academic knowledge, particularly in a rapidly changing social environment where children are increasingly influenced by foreign cultural content.
During the speech, Upadhyaya specifically highlighted what he described as differences between Western and Eastern value systems. Referring to the nursery rhyme “Johnny Johnny Yes Papa,” he remarked that lines such as “Eating sugar? No papa” promote the idea of lying to parents. According to him, such rhymes fail to provide the moral values needed by the present generation and instead subtly encourage children to hide the truth or behave dishonestly.
In contrast, the BJP leader praised traditional Hindi poems and rhymes that earlier generations in India reportedly grew up learning. He argued that many Indian poems contained deeper cultural lessons and life values that contributed positively to children’s moral development. His comments quickly drew attention online and triggered discussions regarding the role of cultural identity, language, and values in school education.
Apart from the controversy surrounding his remarks, the event also focused on issues related to Shiksha Mitras working in Uttar Pradesh’s education system. During the programme, the minister honoured 12 Shiksha Mitras by presenting them with symbolic cheques linked to the increase in their honorarium. Upadhyaya stated that Shiksha Mitras form an important pillar of the state’s education system and play a crucial role, especially in rural and remote regions.
He announced that the state government had increased the honorarium of Shiksha Mitras from Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000. According to him, the hike would help improve the financial condition and living standards of para teachers working across the state, particularly those posted in economically weaker and distant areas.
While reiterating the need to combine education with moral values, Upadhyaya said the government was committed not only to improving educational infrastructure and teacher welfare but also to strengthening cultural and ethical education among students. During the ceremony, attendees were also shown a live telecast of a programme addressed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur.
The minister’s remarks have since generated mixed reactions, with supporters arguing that Indian education should place greater emphasis on cultural and moral instruction, while critics accused him of unnecessarily politicising nursery rhymes and drawing simplistic conclusions about children’s learning material.
