Agartala: The Principal of a Christian Missionary school located at Dhajanagar on the outskirts of Udaipur city in Tripura sought protection from the administration after a Hindu right-wing organization allegedly resorted to the use of force on the school authorities to organize Saraswati Puja on its premises.
Tessy Joseph, the principal of Don Bosco School, Udaipur, narrated the entire incident in a letter to District Magistrate, Gomati, Tarit Kanti Chakma, demanding his intervention to handle the situation. According to the letter, a group of people who identified themselves as volunteers of Hindu Jagaran Mancha visited the Tripura Christian school premises multiple times, seeking permission to organise Saraswati Puja.
“We have been running Don Bosco School, Udaipur since 1999, working relentlessly for the development of the Gomati District and adjoining Districts as well as the State. This school is a Christian Minority Institution, enjoying its Constitutional right guaranteed under Article 29 and 30 of The Constitution of India (Certificate of Minority Institution attached herewith). We are a fully unaided school running on our own. Although our institution is primarily meant for Christian students, we cater to students from all sections/religions of the State, emphasizing the creation of better human beings and citizens of India.
On February 8 around 1:30 pm, a group of people identifying themselves as members of Hindu Jagran Manch visited my office and, in my absence, met the Vice-Principal, demanding to conduct Saraswati Puja in the school. The Vice Principal politely informed them that we are a Christian Minority Institution and cannot allow them to do so within the school premises, as The Constitution of India grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. They returned, threatening us that they would compel the institution to conduct Saraswati Puja in the school premises,” the letter reads.
Expressing her concerns, the principal of the Tripura Christian school noted that despite several attempts to convince them, they remained steadfast in conducting the Puja by “hook or by crook.”
“On 9th February at 11:00 am, under the leadership of one Shri Pratim Datta, identifying as members of ‘Sanatani Dharma,’ they came again to the school with the same demand. We politely reiterated our earlier submission, and in disagreement, they threatened me and challenged us, saying that they would gather local people and bring Swami Ji to the campus to conduct the Saraswati Puja by hook and crook. They did not understand or could not understand the right of the Minority Christian Institute guaranteed by The Constitution of India. Today, at around 11:00 am, they again came to my chamber and literally started threatening me of consequences if I don’t allow them to conduct Saraswati Puja on the school premises. We again reiterated that we have full respect for the Saraswati Puja and other religious rituals of any religion, but we reserve our religious right to run our institution as per Article 30 of The Constitution of India. However, they were adamant, and Shri Pritam Datta arrogantly challenged the institution to conduct the Saraswati Puja within the school premises by hook and crook, and the school could not prevent him from doing so,” the letter added.
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On being contacted, District Magistrate Gomati, Tarit Kanti Chakma, informed EastMojo that he would look into the matter. Speaking on the issue, OC RK Pur police station Babul Das said, “Some people went to the school principal to conduct Saraswati Puja in the institution. Necessary steps were taken henceforth, and the matter now stands resolved. No Puja is being performed at the school.”
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