Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members protested at Vandana Convent School in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna, after the Principal Catherine Vattoly stopped sixth-grade students from chanting Sanskrit verses during the morning assembly on 15th July. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against her, per the authorities. The institution is one of the district’s oldest English medium schools and was founded in 1974 by the Sisters of the St. Elizabeth.
Saksham Dubey, a 26-year-old Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activist filed the formal complaint which stated three students attempted to recite the Sanskrit shloka (verse) “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina” on 15th July between 8 am to 9 am when Principal Catherine got upset and snatched the microphone from the students and stopped them from giving the speech.
The complaint highlighted, “Sister Catherine said all this Shayari (poetry) will not be allowed and asked the students to speak in English. The statement of Sister Catherine equating shokla to Shayari has hurt our Hindu religious sentiments. The students have to also face mental harassment. The seeds of missionary mentality were sown by Sister Catherine, which affected all the students following the Hindu religion.”
#WATCH | #Guna: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Workers Stage Protest At Vandana Convent School After Principal Halts Sixth-Grade Student From Chanting Sanskrit Verses During Morning Assembly#MadhyaPradesh #MPNews #Students #ABVP pic.twitter.com/XVqRfDZq0R
— Free Press Madhya Pradesh (@FreePressMP) July 23, 2024
Catherine Vattoly, who was holding a microphone, addressed the demonstrators and apologised in the hope that they would leave after ABVP activists staged a protest at the school gates. “It was a day to speak in English, so the student was stopped. If anyone’s feelings were hurt, I apologise. I respect all religions,” she claimed. The agitation commenced after ABVP members read in a Hindi newspaper that the Principal took away the mic from the students and pushed them to speak in English.
On July 21, District Education Officer (DEO) Chandrashekhar Sisodia sent a show-cause notice to the institution which asked the management to clarify. The notice highlighted, “What kind of program was conducted in your school in which the children were snatched from the microphone and stopped from speaking Sanskrit verses and Hindi, and were asked to speak in English.”
It further stated, “In the above sequence, you should immediately provide your explanation along with evidence in writing to the undersigned. If the explanation is not received or is not found satisfactory, a proposal for disciplinary action against the school as per rules will be sent to the competent authority.”
The administration of the school alleged that selected pupils usually deliver presentations in Hindi and English during morning assembly. Speeches that day were expected to be given in English as per the school, but the students started speaking in Hindi. He was requested to speak in English by the teacher. Everyday prayers include the recitation of several religious quotes.
The demonstrators demanded that the Principal be fired and that the Sanskrit verse that the youngster had been prevented from uttering be incorporated into the school’s daily prayers. They also wanted an FIR against the school administration. It took around two hours for the protest to end. After reassurances from the school authorities, the situation subsided when the district education officer arrived.
“I also come from an English medium school. It is a global language and in South Indian states this is the language that is used. I also speak in English. We did not have an issue with the language. The school Principal is denying freedom to these children. We wanted to bring these anti-national practices to the administration’s notice,” said ABVP district convener Piyush Mishra.
“After the uproar and protest by the student organisation, the police took cognisance of the matter and registered an FIR against the school Principal. The matter is being investigated,” informed Guna Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mansingh Thakur. The official complaint was filed under sections 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious sentiments of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 196 (Promoting animosity between different groups on grounds of religion, etc.) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These sections provide for a maximum sentence of three years for the convicted individuals.
