By Matters India Reporter
Satna, Oct 25, 2021: Rightwing Hindu activists on October 25 served a 15-day ultimatum to Catholic school in the central Indian state Madhya Pradesh state to install in the campus an idol of Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge.
A 30-member delegation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (world Hindu council) and Bajrang Dal (Party of the stout and strong) met Father Augustine Chittuparambil, manager of Christ Jyoti Senior Secondary School in Satna district headquarters, to make the demand through a memorandum.
“The Hindu activists came to our school and wanted us to install an idol of goddess Saraswati in the campus,” Father Chittuparambil told Matters India.
The radicals forced the priest to give in writing that he had received their memorandum that he accepted at the school’s main gate.
The Hindu activists left the place with a warning to come back in case the school failed to comply with their demand.
“They claim that the school was built at a place where the idol of goddess Saraswati had existed,” the priest explained.
He pointed out that the school was built 49 years ago and no one had made such a claim until now.
The Syro-Malabar diocese of Satna manages the school. Satna town is some 455 km northeast of Bhopal, the state capital.
The priest said they will seek legal protection if the radicals come back to create any problem. But the school management would wait for some more time, he added.
This the second case of harassment of Catholic schools by Hindu groups this year.
On February 22 the police registered a case against Sister Bhagya, a member of the Sisters of Destitute and principal of Sacred Heart Convent High School in Khajuraho of Chhatarpur district.
The nun was accused of attempting to convert a former female staff. She had to obtain bail from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to prevent her arrest.
Ruby Sigh, the complainant accused the nun of offering her better package if she converted to Christianity. The nun had also allegedly promised her that ailing husband would be healed if they prayed to Jesus.
Church leaders termed the complaint as fake since neither the nun nor the complainant had met during the time the alleged offer was made as the school was shut because of the Covid-19 lockdown.
The school had removed the complainant from her job much before the lockdown following complaints from students and their parents about her poor performance.
The complainant targeted the nun under a stringent anti-conversion law Madhya Pradesh implemented in January this year.
The nun is still facing the probe against her.
Madhya Pradesh has been ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Erecting religious status in front of secular institutes we run is a tradition we have created. Objectively speaking that would offend the feelings of other religious believers in the school, students, parents and even teachers particularly in the present India ruled by Hindu fundamentalists.
We can take this as a warning and be more sensitive in making our school and hospital, campuses ‘secular’ by deinstalling slowly ostensible religious structures all over India. Let us not make our secular services look coated in religious faith. Human emotions are not led by Constitutional rights.
How is the school obliged to implement the dictat of these two fascist groups? Does it have the sanction of the Department of Education? We should not succumb to their high handedness. Garner support from all secular minded groups and have the media give it wide coverage.
Terrorists will come and cut your head off if you you simply pray for the well being of criminals and terrorists and profess your love for them. Please keep your mouth shut if you cannot offer any solution to protect the lives of the children and teachers in the school. Their lives are in danger.
A clear case of violation of one’s autonomy. This is against the constitution and a fascist move under a fascist regime. This need to be questioned and exposed. The very foundation of secular India is under threat!
Lets stand united firmly..against this move from the fundamentals.
We in India are wasting much of our time and energy in such issues at the cost of real development.
It’s a SCHOOL which has been there for close to 50years!
have people become so blinded and hard headed that they cannot see their own children have been educated out of the same school
Why is a school now becoming about religion
Pathetic state of affairs !!
What in the world is the government and law doing about such atrocities
All the Christian Schools in India unanimously protest against it abruptly. Today it jerked one and tomorrow it may be diverted to many. Never comply with provocations
Let them know that we are Christians by our Love! And let them be transformed into Christ’s close Followers. This is our Prayer of Blessing upon those who persecute us. Amen Alleluia!
We should expect more such activism in the Hindi belt. Those who have been reading my comments would recollect that I have consistently warned that Catholic Church, being the visible face of the faith, would be required to pay for the zealotry of evangelists going on overdrive. It is time Catholic Church distanced itself from evangelical groups and make the hardline Hindus know that Catholics are not in conversion business. One may dislike or hate Modi but don’t be blinded as not to allow anyone to take advantage of. That “anyone” is evangelists of various hue and cry.
What is Syro Malabar doing at Satna. Do they have enough Keralites over there to have established such a big school or merely an extension of their commercial activities.
The School Management must seek legal opinion. It must not give in to extra-constitutional fanatical elements.
Lord God, Judge over all the earth, overrule all of these attacks in Jesus’s name and render them inoperable. Amen
Distressing but not surprising. These guys are emboldened by a protective and supportive BJP government.
This is a democratic nation with its citizens enjoying religious freedom. Mischief mongers and goons should not be allowed to make incursions into that freedom. It is the duty of the government to maintain law and order. The anti-conversion bill has become a cover for anti-national activities. The court should take note.
MPK Kutty
Arrogance should not be allowed to have its way. This is a democratic nation with religious freedom. Incursions into that freedom by mischief makers and goons should not be tolerated. MPK Kutty
These few people who come in the name of Hindu culminate the mind of pupils who are the future of our nation. Can Christians ask govt. to install the statue of Jesus in all the non-christians schools or govt offices? When all faith people live together in peace and unity why such people to the work of destructio? May God forgive them and their families. Work of devil always brings the destruction in the family in the society.
The school 🏫 should prtotest by closing the building for a week.
Please bless us O Lord and send your protection
It’s going to be the way forward for the fascist Hindu gundas ….
They are not just a few miscreants they have been sponsored and protected by big heads who are the criminals but having big powers.
They don’t anymore look at our education ministry as service to humanity but money spinning machines….!
Anyway education should be business of the Govt.
Are we ready to trun these institutions into old age homes and charity centers..??
As long as we are attached with these institutions they will control us..!
Be liberated!!
This is getting dangerous! What sort of boldness is this the the VHP and the BD are demonstrating? they are making things difficult for the Christian minority across the country. Such mischief needs to be nipped in the bud promptly.