Play ‘depicting burqa-clad women as terrorists’ at I-Day event in Gujarat school kicks up a row

The notice was issued based on the representation made by a social organisation, Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar, which alleged that the play “depicted the Muslim community as terrorists” and demanded stern action against the “teachers behind the play”.

In the notice sent to Bhavnagar Municipal School Board Administrative Officer (AO) Munjal Badmaliya, the DEO sought details of the cultural programme at the school and asked whether the depiction as stated in the representation was intentional or unintentional, along with details of the function held on the school campus.

Confirming the development, Padheriya told The Indian Express, “The representation, marked to the District Collector, Municipal Commissioner and DEO on Monday, stated that there was a deliberate depiction of muslims as terrorists during the cultural programme held at the school on August 15. To find out facts and details, I have sought an explanation from the Administrative Officer within seven days.”

The all-girls school in Bhavnagar with an enrollment of more than 600 students has come under spotlight after videos of the cultural programme appeared on social media.

In its representation, Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar alleged “an attempt by the school staff to hurt religious sentiments and spread unrest in the public”.

“At Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Prathmik Shala Number 50-51 in Bhavnagar’s Kumbharwada area, a play was presented by the children….. In this play, Kashmiri pilgrims as well as the Army and terrorists were depicted. In the play, girls dressed in Muslim attire (burqa) were shown as terrorists, clearly depicting the Muslim community as terrorists,” Bandharan Bachav Samiti said in the representation.

The Samiti added that there is a lot of anger and protest in the Muslim community against the teachers, who, it said, showed their criminal mentality by staging such a play in the school.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Jehurbhai Hussainbhai Jeja, the president of Bandharan Bachav Samiti, said, “The Muslim community demands that all those school staff behind this act should be suspended and strict legal action should be taken so that no such unconstitutional act is committed in the future.”

When contacted, the Administrative Officer, Munjal Badmaliya, said, “The cultural programmes are held every year on January 26 and August 15. This year it was themed on Operation Sindoor and the bravery of our defence forces, and programmes were held in every school. Nothing was intentional or deliberate. We will submit our response to the notice.”

There are over 30,000 students enrolled in 68 municipal schools in Bhavnagar city. This year as a part of Operation Sindoor celebration, school students sent Rakhis and letters to the soldiers from Gujarat. From Bhavnagar district alone, over 2 lakh school students have written to the soldiers from Gujarat.