Bijnor, Aug 30: The suspension of Ayesha Parveen, a government school teacher in Bhanera village, Kiratpur Block, Bijnor District, Uttar Pradesh, has sparked a major controversy, highlighting deepening communal tensions within the educational institution. The incident revolves around allegations that Ayesha barred students from wearing the traditional Hindu tilak on their foreheads, which has led to her suspension and ignited a heated debate in the community.
The allegations surfaced after several students claimed that Ayesha not only discouraged them from attending school with a tilak but also punished those who wore it. Yash, a Grade VI student, accused Ayesha of double standards, stating, “Teacher Ayesha forbids us from coming to school with a tilak on our forehead, while many Muslim children come to school wearing caps. They are not stopped.” Another student, Mayank, alleged that Ayesha beat him when he questioned why Muslim students were allowed to wear caps.
The school’s principal, Rajendra Singh, confirmed that he had received complaints about Ayesha’s behaviour. “I was informed that teacher Ayesha discourages children from wearing tilak. I have reported the situation to the Block Education Officer,” Singh said.
He clarified that there is no official school policy against wearing tilak and mentioned that Muslim students are given additional time on Fridays to offer namaz, which has also become a point of contention among some parents and community members.
Following the complaints, District Basic Education Officer (BSA) Yogendra Kumar took swift action, suspending Ayesha and halting the annual increments of two other teachers, Mukhtar Ahmed and Usha.
“After the matter of stopping students from wearing tilak came to my notice, we took immediate action,” Kumar stated.
“Further investigation has been handed over to the Block Education Officer, and any subsequent actions will be based on the findings.”
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from various quarters. Hindu organisations such as Bajrang Dal and ABVP have voiced concerns about the influence of Muslim teachers in the school, accusing them of fostering a biased environment. However, some students, including those from the Hindu community, have defended the Muslim teachers. “The Muslim teachers are very good and teach us well,” said a student who wished to remain anonymous.
Ayesha and Ahmed have categorically denied the allegations, calling them baseless. “These accusations are completely false. We have never stopped anyone from applying tilak or asked about wearing caps,” Ayesha asserted.
Ayesha suggested that the students, under pressure, were giving a communal twist to the issue due to strict academic expectations. “We will take this matter to court and are confident of getting justice,” she added.
Meanwhile, local villagers have accused Mukhtar Ahmed of taking Muslim students to a nearby mosque for prayers during school hours, a claim he insists is a misrepresentation. “Most of the students here come from poor backgrounds. We are strict with them academically, and some have tried to mislead the authorities by giving a communal angle to the situation,” Ahmed said.
As the investigation continues, the incident underscores the ongoing challenges of maintaining communal harmony in educational institutions, especially in regions where religious sensitivities are pronounced.
