SHIMLA: The 18-year-old Sikh boy studying in a Christian private school in Shimla was banned wearing a turban in the school, said Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla, an apex body of the Sikhs in the capital of the state.
“A Sikh boy studying in plus 2 class in St. Edward’s School here in Shimla was denied wearing turban. The Guru Singh Sabha wrote a letter to the Principal in the Month of March when the school reopened but the school administration did not respond on this sensitive religious matter. Ultimately, we decided to go to the media as it hurts our religious sentiments. We would welcome if school administration allows wearing turban to the senior students. We want the issue to be resolved amicably,” Jaswinder Singh,President , Guru Singh Sabha Shimla, told Punjab Newsline.
The Guru Singh Sabha severely criticized this move of the private school calling it violation of the right to freedom of religion granted under the Indian Constitution.
We have given ultimatum to the principal of the school if this practice does not end and wearing turban was not allowed, we would begin a protest in front of the school and need be, can launch a protest movement across the state. The school is purposely hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, he added.
“The Sikhs in Shimla feel hurt by this act of violation of the religious right of wearing turban, which is the religious identity of our community. We are a secular democratic country and such an act leads to spread of communalism in the society especially when an educational Institution practices such unconstitutional activity in its campus,” said President of the Guru Singh Sabha, Shimla. .
We have given ultimatum to the principal of the school if this practice does not end and wearing turban was not allowed, we would begin a protest in front of the school and need be, can launch a protest movement across the state. The school is purposely hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, he added.
The school administration denies such allegations. The principal of the school said that we have no objection on wearing turban in the school and the matter has already been settled with the parents.
“We have not stopped anybody wearing the turban, this boy and nobody wears turban in the school. He has reached class 12th and suddenly comes wearing turban. He looked different and I asked him for the reason of sudden change. He did mention some religious reason and I spoke to the parents and matter has already been settled. I am surprised why this matter is being steered up. We have no objections in wearing turban, all students from Sikh religion can wear a turban,” said John Bosco, the principal of St Edward’s school.
Father of the student also feels hurt at the decision of the school as disallowing wearing a turban means denial of the religious freedom.
“My son went to school wearing turban. The Principal in the school asked him to wear head scarf (Pataka ). I appeal to the school administration to allow wearing turban to the senior students in higher classes and Patka to the junior students. These kind of thinks hurts our religious sentiments,” said Jaspal,the father of student.
District Magistrate Shimla Onkar Sharma said that representatives of Guru Singh Sabha met him against the decision of the school. It’s a serious issue that involves religious sentiments. We will call the parents, the Sikh bodies and the school management and sort out the matter.
BJP state spokesman Ganesh Dutt has expressed displeasure over this incident, strongly criticizing the alleged undemocratic order issued by the Principal of the school.
Mr. Dutt said that wearing of turban reflects sacrifices of Sikh Community made to this society and such incidents seldom happen in our country. He demanded immediate revoking of such ban on wearing turban in the school.
India is a multi- religious society, secular and tolerant society. Here such an act of allegedly banning turban is looked upon as an intolerant and Undemocratic move. Constitution and law of the country does allow it.
