Huddard High School in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur district has come under scrutiny for a debate competition that stirred controversy among students. Held on December 9th, the Hindi debate tackled the topic of “Violence or Non-Violence, What is better?”
The competition took a controversial turn as students were seemingly compelled to defend Israel’s actions, framed by some as amounting to the genocide of Palestinians. Those arguing ‘FOR’ focused on Hamas’s actions, questioning the number of naval infants killed by the group and justifying Israel’s missile responses. Meanwhile, those arguing ‘AGAINST’ examined Israel’s response to Hamas attacks, emphasizing the impact on Israeli generations.
However, concerns arose as students from the non-Muslim community reportedly justified violence by Israel, perpetuating Islamophobia. Some labeled Hamas as a terrorist organization, sparking discomfort among participants.
Students who expressed reservations or discomfort were allegedly labeled as terrorists and faced threats of expulsion. One anonymous student stated, “We felt pressured to advocate for a position that nobody should support,” criticizing the debate for violating principles of open discourse and fostering an environment of discrimination and violence.
Efforts to seek an apology from the school’s principal, Sunny Verghese, yielded no results, prompting students to resort to protests. The school administration responded with stern actions, restricting students’ movements during various school activities.
Outraged students took to social media, demanding accountability and an apology. Videos of the protests circulated online, gaining momentum. In response, the school administration suspended classes, citing study leaves for preliminary exams starting December 13th, which were originally scheduled for December 22nd.
Huddard High School, predominantly attended by Muslim students, is run by Christians, with 80 percent of the students being Muslim. The controversy raises questions about the school’s commitment to ethical and moral education, as students continue to press for a resolution.
Efforts to obtain comments from teachers accused of bias against Palestine, including Anamika Das, were unsuccessful. Principal Sunny Verghese asserted that students’ views expressed in the debate were their own, emphasizing there was no communal angle to the incident. The story continues to unfold, with ongoing efforts to reach the school administration for further clarification. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.
