Pune: A poem included in the first-grade Balbharati book titled 'Junglat Tharli Maifal' has sparked significant controversy in the literary community and on social media.

Critics argue that the poem, written by a poetess, uses forced rhymes by incorporating foreign words, thus undermining its literary value. The poem includes words from English and Hindi, which some literary experts believe diminishes the quality of the literature provided to young students.

The poem’s selection process has come under scrutiny, with many questioning the criteria used by the Balbharati selection committee.

Sandeep Joshi, a member of the Facebook group ‘We Must Preserve Marathi Schools,’ posted the poem online, causing it to go viral and igniting widespread debate.

Literary experts such as Madhav Rajguru, former director of Balbharati and president of the All India Marathi Children's Association, expressed disappointment over the poem's inclusion, stating that there are plenty of well-crafted children's poems that could have been selected instead. They argued that the poem's attempt to rhyme felt forced and awkward.

However, Balbharati Director Krishnakumar Patil defended the poem, asserting that it contains no objectionable content and that the use of English words is practical for today's children.

He emphasized that the rhythmic quality of the poem helps children remember it, which is a crucial consideration for Balbharati’s selections.

Interestingly, the poem 'Junglat Tharli Maifal' was written by the poetess when she was in the third grade. She had previously shared on social media that the poem was chosen based on criteria such as providing information about different animals and musical instruments.