A school in Baharaich town, Uttar Pradesh, is facing intense scrutiny and public backlash after a question in its Class 9 Hindi paper ignited controversy. The question, which included the term “Indian Muslim Terrorism,” has triggered protests from local Muslims, resulting in calls for action against the school.
The contentious question was part of a comprehension exercise on the topic of terrorism. It read, “Yeh ek vicharsheelata ki pranali hai jisme Bharatiya Muslim atankvad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al Qaeda, Taliban aur Islamic rajniti ke vibhinna sangathan shamil hain,” which translates to, “It is part of an ideology in which Indian Muslim terrorism, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al Qaeda, Taliban, and various organizations of Islamic politics are included.”
The inclusion of the term “Indian Muslim Terrorism” in the question has led to accusations of insensitivity and promoting prejudice against the Muslim community. Additionally, the paragraph in question also contained controversial statements, suggesting that the Indian government should prepare for war with Pakistan while simultaneously engaging in bilateral negotiations on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.
In response to the uproar, the school administration issued an apology, claiming that the use of the term “Muslim” in the question was inadvertent. Furthermore, the school management took swift action by terminating the Hindi teacher responsible for preparing the question paper and canceling the affected examination.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened sensitivity to communal issues in Uttar Pradesh, as the Supreme Courtrecently criticized the state government and police for their handling of a separate matter in Muzaffarnagar. In that case, a school teacher encouraged students to repeatedly slap a young Muslim boy, an incident that was captured on video and went viral.
The Supreme Court expressed dismay over the delay in registering an FIR and the absence of references to allegations of communal hatred in the complaint. The court insisted that the case should be investigated by a senior IPS police officer. Justice Oka, presiding over the case, emphasized the importance of quality education that includes sensitivity towards all communities. He remarked that such incidents should “shake the conscience of the State.”
The controversy surrounding the question in the Baharaich school paper has renewed concerns about the need for a more inclusive and sensitive education system, particularly in regions with diverse communities like Uttar Pradesh. It remains to be seen how the local authorities and education officials will address this issue and work toward promoting greater tolerance and understanding among students.
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