Islamic References in School Alphabet Charts Ignite Controversy
School’s Hindi alphabet charts with Islamic references spark protests.
A heated controversy erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district after Baby Convent School’s principal, IA Qureshi, allegedly distributed Hindi alphabet charts containing Islamic references, prompting the education department to launch an investigation. The charts reportedly linked letters like ‘Ka’ to Kaba, ‘Ma’ to Masjid, and ‘Na’ to Namaz, triggering outrage among local groups.
On Friday, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested outside the school, gheraoing Qureshi to demand accountability. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pratibha Sharma said police intervened to restore order, referring the matter to the district education officer (DEO). DEO D D Rajak confirmed an ongoing probe, stating, “Education department guidelines prohibit study materials with religious symbols of any specific faith in schools.”
Qureshi admitted the error, calling it “inadvertent” and explaining that a few charts, sourced from Bhopal, were mistakenly included among regular materials. She claimed the charts, typically used in madrasas, were mixed with Urdu-Hindi multiplication tables due to a supplier’s error. The incident has fueled debates over religious neutrality in education, with authorities vowing to ensure compliance with guidelines to prevent future controversies.
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