Agartala: Activists affiliated with the Hindu right-wing organisation Bajrang Dal staged a protest in front of Holy Cross School located at Durjay Nagar, in the outskirts of Agartala city after a female teacher at the school allegedly removed an “Om pendant” tied on the hand of a class VIII student.
“The teacher, Sonali Nandi made sweeping remarks on Hindu religious beliefs while forcefully removing the pendant. She said this place was meant for Jesus and nothing related to Ram or other Hindu deities is acceptable here. This incident exposed the intolerant atmosphere in which our students are forced to study in missionary schools,” the state coordinator of Bajrang Dal, Tutan Saha told media persons during the protests.
Stating that his organisation was not against any religion, Saha said, “If the fathers and sisters working in the school have the right to wear the cross while discharging their duties inside the school premises what law bars the students of Hindu community from wearing something that symbolizes their faith in the supreme power or a deity someone admires and worships.”
A delegation of the organisation met the Principal of the school and sought an apology from the teacher for presenting the Hindu religion in a bad light.
“The teacher had withdrawn her statement and returned the pendant. The school authorities failed to provide any circular or guidelines that ban wearing, sporting, or using any article that is related to religious beliefs. Yes, they have certain guidelines such as no students can wear or keep anything that might have fatal consequences such as sticks, sharp objects, etc. The use of smartwatches is also barred inside the school premises, something that we also agree with. We hope all institutions will foster an atmosphere where people from all backgrounds can exercise their religion,” Saha told EastMojo on what transpired in the meeting.
In a blistering attack on missionary schools, Saha said, “The Hindu society must wake up now from its prolonged hibernation. The majority of the students in missionary schools come from Hindu households. In a way, the Hindu society is sponsoring the religious conversions administered by the missionaries in the remote villages. An aware and conscious call in this regard is the need of the hour.”
Dr Manoj Debnath, father of the class VII student who faced the admonishment from the teacher lamented that the school had failed to live up to his expectations.
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“When my son narrated the whole incident, I was moved. The pendant was a gift. My elder brother gave it to my son. He bought it from Somnath temple. Creating such sort of barriers at a tender age has a big psychological impact on the minds of the children,” Debnath, a professor of Women’s College Agartala told the media.
He also pitched for organising Saraswati Puja on the school premises. “We are also stakeholders in the school. If the school authorities have problems organizing the Puja, they can allow the students and their parents to volunteer the task on the school premises. If they don’t want to get involved, they are welcome. Our religion has instances of showing respect to all faiths. In Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Jesus is worshipped on the day of Christmas.”
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