As the controversy of Hijab spreads across the states in India and draws the attention of the international community, a teacher from Kerala’s Kasaragod is recollecting an incident that he had to face from an educational institution in the district.
The teacher, who is also a writer was on a visit to an educational institution in Kasaragod, a district that consist of a majority Muslim population. As the session started a student in the classroom asked a question to the teacher pointing out to the tilak of sandalwood on the forehead of the teacher if it was bird poop on his forehead.
The teacher having decades of experience teaching even abroad was shocked by the question and the level of intolerance of the student. He says that personally he never visit a classroom with any religious symbol, but he was attending the class soon after attending a house warming ceremony of a friend where the tilak was offered. He says that such symbols will cause distraction in the process of teaching and learning.
However, it was a clear case of mocking at Hinduism where the student knows clearly the significance of Tilak. The teacher further says that when he was asked the students to introduce themselves while mentioning family details, most of the students said they had 6-10 children in their houses which indicates the surging Muslim population in the state.
Not just Hijab, no religious signs should be allowed in an educational institution, says the teacher pointing out that such signs would have a serious impact on the teaching-learning process and will also create feelings of indifference among children.
The country, since time immemorial, is famed for its tolerance for various philosophies of life including religions, casts, doctrines by various schools of thought within India. The present controversy is a part of a major propaganda by religious fanatics, adds the teacher who doesn’t wish to reveal his identity.
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