Should Schools Be Communal Sartorial Battlegrounds?

January 15, 2022

The uniform makes for brotherhood, since when universally adopted it covers up all differences of class and country.” - Robert Baden-Powell (1857- 1941), British Army Officer, writer and founder and first Chief Scout of world-wide Scout Movement.

Modern schools have what is called house-uniform for both girl and boy students. But, many common run of schools have no dress regulations and nobody bothered about it for decades. But, now dresses worn by students have become matter of controversy and communal flare-ups. Given below are some excerpts from recent media coverage on the subject.

  • Udupi, Jan 13: Because of the dispute over wearing of Hijab by the Muslim girl students, the girl students have been studying outside their classroom.
  • The news that several girl students were sent out of the class in the government PU college here a few days back because they were wearing Hijabs had hit national level headlines.
  • The issue is yet to be resolved.

Chikkamagaluru, Jan 11 (IANS): The saffron shawl versus hijab row ended at the Balagadi First Grade College in Koppa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka as students and parents called a truce and agreed not to wear either a hijab or a saffron shawl along with the uniform to the college from January 11.

However, the girls will be allowed to wear veils on the face. The decision was made at the parents meeting held in the college.

Principal S Ananth addressing the meeting stated that a similar controversy erupted in 2018. Then, a decision was taken to only cover the face with a veil. This time also consent has been taken from all.

The row erupted recently when a group of students started attending classes in hijabs. In retaliation to this, another group of students started wearing saffron scarves and shawls to the college.

The students last week staged a protest by boycotting classes for allowing some of the students to wear a hijab. The students said that uniform norms were violated by some students who wear a hijab along with the uniform. If they are allowed to wear hijabs, then they must also be allowed to come with saffron scarves and shawls, the agitating students demanded.

In the middle of all these developments and controversies, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor is reported to have said on January 7, 2022 that a committee will be asked to make suggestions on how the issue could be addressed at the respective college levels. He said academic activities – and not political or religious interference - should take center-stage on campuses.

There can be much more that can be said on the subject. But, I would rather conclude with John Dewey (1859-1952), American philosopher and educational reformer: “Man is not logical and his intellectual history is a record of mental reserves and compromises. He hangs on to what he can in his old beliefs even when he is compelled to surrender their logical basis.”

The subject is open to many views. What are yours? Your response is welcome in the format given below. (Please scroll down a bit.)

 

Also read:

 

 

 

 

 

By John B Monteiro
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • Rohan, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 16 2022

    Dear Sir I liked the last sentence of John Dewey. We have to shed our old inhibitions and move forward without clinging to the past when it is least logical. Someone anointed me a sinner to be saved at birth and now I believe I am no sinner. I am a wonderful, pure and beautiful creation on a spiritual journey. When you are in this realm outward signs will make no difference. May all be enlightened. Happy weekend.

  • Veer, Nagpur

    Sun, Jan 16 2022

    This tit-for-tat action by saffron brigade and with a conditional challenge within school campus against fellow students like opposition political party is not acceptable. It’s not part of students curriculum and studies and doesn’t hinder or affect thier studies in anyway. It’s purely school’s disciplinary and administrative matter. If there is any disagreement then it should be sought out in Parents-Teachers meeting, students are nowhere involved in these administrative matters. Hijab is part of Muslim dress code, also mentioned in Muslim holy book for women to dress modestly provided the face is fully shown from forehead to chin and ear to ear. But in Hindu scriptures nowhere is mentioned for women about wearing shawl. If students are encouraged and exploited to get involved in these unrelated affairs by vested parties with authority and power then this govt is directing our future generation and our country to the path of self destruction and chaos. Silence from from our state heads on these sensitive and very dear matter affecting our children is very much deafening.

  • mohan prabhu, Mangalore/Ottawa, Canada

    Sun, Jan 16 2022

    Sartorial disputes arise not because the students want but are coerced by their parents to assert their identity by flashing religious symbols. This happens because of the rivalry between Hindus and Muslims. Never heard of any Christian going to a public or non-Christian school publicly displaying Christian symbols, like the Cross and the Scapular. That is because they are a small minority and parents are not fundamentalists.


Leave a Comment

Title: Should Schools Be Communal Sartorial Battlegrounds?



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.