A Muslim girl student has taken her fight for the right to wear a headscarf in class out of the campus and into the domain of the state. In a letter to Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner Channappa Gowda, she has sought official permission to do so. She has also indicated that if she fails to get a positive response from the DC, she will go all the way up to the Governor and then the President of India.
Hadiya, a II PUC (commerce) student of Jain PU College, Moodbidri, told Bangalore Mirror, “There is no question of stepping back. Though the response from the DC was not very encouraging, I will wait till he gets back to me, either directly or through the college. In case I fail to get a positive response, after consulting my elders, I will write to the Governor and the President of India,” she said, adding that the DC had hinted that she change the college.
The DC said, “We will examine the issue in detail after speaking to both parties and also considering the situation prevalent in other colleges of Mangalore.”
Hadiya had stopped going to college for over a month after she was not allowed to wear a headscarf in the classroom. She claims she has been fighting for her cause for a year, and that a signature campaign initiated by her got the support of 50 Muslim and 15 non-Muslim students.
She claims the principal later called the non-Muslim students and asked them to sign a letter to the effect that she had forced them to support her cause. “The principal says I am creating tension in the college. I am only fighting for a cause. I want to continue my studies. Despite not attending classes, I constantly update my notes with the help of classmates in my neighbourhood. Initially, I was allowed to sit in the ladies’ room. Now I have been asked not to come to the college,” she said.
According to her mother Hina, the family has no problem with the college but only wants permission for Hadiya to observe ‘hijab’. Umaira Khatun, a social worker, said ‘hijab’ is a part of the religion and should be permitted. “We do not intend to bring a bad name to the college,” she said.
Abhijith M, secretary of the Jain Vidyavardhaka Sangha that runs the college, said, “The restriction on hijab is only inside the classroom. We have no problem if Hadiya comes with the headscarf upto the corridor. But inside the classroom the uniform has to be followed.” There is a ladies’ room where a provision has been made for Muslim students to leave their burkhas, he said.
“Last year, she attended college without a headscarf. This year, all of a sudden she has become particular about it,” he said, adding that some students who had supported Hadiya’s signature campaign have given in writing that they were not aware why she had collected signatures.
Meanwhile, the management has decided to set up a two-member inquiry panel comprising the secretary and the correspondent of the Sangha. “Once we receive directions from the Deputy Commissioner, a decision will be taken without hurting religious sentiments while at the same time upholding the values of the college. We have not suspended her, Hadiya has stopped coming to college on her own,” Abjhijit clarified.
“In the past 39 years, hijab has never been an issue in our college. There are 980 students, of whom 30 per cent are Muslims,” said college correspondent Prathap Kumar.
Two years ago, Aysha Ashmin (19), a I B Com student of Sri Venkataraman Swamy (SVS) College, Bantwal, had made a similar complaint about not being allowed to wear a headscarf in class. Subsequently, she changed her college.
17-year-old student ready to take hijab fight to President, News - Cover Story - Bangalore Mirror,Bangalore Mirror