The chairman of a private school in Kerala's Thrissur district has apologised after a message in which he reportedly told students who missed the Independence Day celebrations to “go to Pakistan” triggered controversy. Raju Davis, chairman of Raju Davis International School in Mala, said he regretted his remarks if they had offended anyone and maintained that he had not intended to insult people. The controversy began after his message in a parents' WhatsApp group surfaced on social media.
The school had instructed students to attend its Independence Day celebrations, but some students reportedly stayed away, citing personal reasons and other urgent matters. In the message, Davis allegedly described those who did not attend as “anti-national” and said they should go to Pakistan. He also reportedly warned that students who skipped the programme would not be allowed to attend classes. The remarks quickly drew criticism, particularly over the use of a political and national identity reference in addressing students.
Responding to the controversy, Davis said he regretted his choice of words and apologised if anyone had been hurt or offended. He said his intention was not to insult people and that he wanted everyone to move forward together. His clarification came after the WhatsApp message gained wider attention on social media. The incident has since prompted discussion over how school authorities should communicate with students and parents, particularly when addressing participation in national events.
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The controversy comes amid a separate political dispute in Kerala over the observance of Independence Day. The BJP's youth wing, Yuva Morcha, held a protest on Sunday and burned effigies of Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan and Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The protest was linked to the state government's decision not to include the singing of Vande Mataram at its main Independence Day function in Thiruvananthapuram.
BJP state general secretary S Suresh, who led the protest, accused the chief minister of taking a position similar to that of Jinnah and alleged that the government was acting under pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami. The Kerala government's decision to omit the national song from its official Independence Day programme became a point of political contention, with the BJP criticising the move and questioning the government's approach to national symbols.
The school chairman's remarks and subsequent apology have therefore emerged against a wider backdrop of debate over Independence Day observances and expressions of patriotism in Kerala. Davis has sought to distance himself from any intention to insult students, while acknowledging that his words caused offence. The controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding political and national references in educational settings, with the school chairman now expressing regret over the language used in his message.
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