Students of a government school in Tamil Nadu protested against a teacher who threatened them to not wear sacred thread and Vibhuti(sacred ash). As no action was taken against the teacher despite multiple complaints, students staged a protest in front of the school.

Boys studying at the Chinnasamy Ammal Boys Higher Secondary School in Tirupur were reportedly asked to not wear the sacred thread and Vibhuti to school by some teachers. They complained that the Assistant Headmaster(AHM) and another teacher abused them and asked the students to not wear kalawa and Vibhuti in a threatening tone.

Students had registered their discontent about the behaviour of these teachers with the Headmaster. But it appears that no action was taken against them and the next day AHM again threatened students to remove kalawa and Vibhuti. Opposing this, students boycotted classes and protested. Police officials and the Education Department assured them of action against the teachers and convinced them to return to classes. 

A few weeks ago the Department of Social Welfare issued a circular to schools banning kalawa supposedly to eradicate caste differences among students. It is believed that in some parts of the state students wear different colored threads to identify with their castes and conflicts erupt between different caste groups based on this. But the circular mentions things worn by Hindus only and other religious artifacts like the rosary, etc are not banned.

Taking it one step further the teachers in Tirupur school seem to have banned Vibhuti as well. Such incidents of mocking Hindu identity and banning them in schools have been on the rise ever since DMK came to power. 

In 2021, a Hindu girl studying in a government-aided Christian school was asked to remove Vibhuti and humiliated in front of her classmates for refusing to do so.

In another such incident students of another government-funded Christian school were beaten up and called misfits and rowdies for wearing Vibhuti.

12-year-old girl student harassed for wearing Vibhuti, Parents allege conversion attempt in TN’s Tirupur school

Shocking news has come from Tamil Nadu’s Tirupur, where parents of a 6th-grade student have complained about forced conversion practices taking place in the city’s Jaivabai Municipal Girls Higher Secondary School. A 12-year-old girl studying in the government-aided school has alleged that Christian teachers abused her for wearing the Pattai (Vibhuti) and targetted her over her religion.

As per the video posted by Hindu Munnani on Facebook, the girl is seen recounting instances where she had to face the brunt of Christian teachers for being Hindu. According to the girl, one day, she was outrightly asked by her teacher ‘who saved us by sacrificing their life.’ When an unexpected reply came from the girl’s side, the teacher asserted, “Jesus gave his life for us. Why do none of you say his name?”. Another day, as part of her handwriting exercise, when the victim wrote the names of Muruga, Krishna and other Hindu deities in Tamil, the teacher scolded her telling not to write such things.

As per the girl’s complaint, the Tamil teacher, who is Christian by religion, even asked the students to pray with folded hands in a Christian way. One day, she pointed out the Vibhuti applied by the girl on her forehead interrogating,” How long does it take to wear that? Who applies it on your forehead?” According to the girl, she was also abused for wearing a Rudraksha mala. She was singled out as a punishment and was made to stand during the whole class for apparently scoring fewer marks, when the teacher ordered her, “Hey you Pattai wearing donkey, stand up!”

The parents have lodged a complaint against the teacher alleging open conversion practices and abuse of Hindu Gods happening in government-aided schools. The parents have demanded action against the teacher with a plea that such incidents should not take place in the future. Investigation Officer Ramesh has said, “We are investigating the matter. If true, action will be taken.”

Hindu Munnani has raised a voice calling it a case of compulsory proselytization in Government schools. “Compulsory conversion atrocities are taking place in all government schools across Tamil Nadu. What does the school education department do? Public outrage will erupt if proper action is not taken, ” Senthil Kumar Secretary, Hindu Munnani said.

Last week, a similar complaint was registered by a girl against a Christian teacher who abused the Hindu deities and forced the students to recite Christian prayers in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari. Earlier in January, Lavanya, 12th-standard student from Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School, Thirukattupali in Thanjavur died by suicide herself after she was tortured by her school authorities to convert to Christianity.

References:

opindia.com
hindupost.in