Private school in Goa at centre of storm after VHP protests students’ workshop at mosque

Members of the VHP had barged into the Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School in Alto Dabolim last Monday (September 11), two days after the workshop, and held a protest. They accused the school principal of “supporting anti-national activities” and claimed that the workshop was part of a conspiracy to “brainwash young children and an attempt to carry out religious conversions”.

The principal, Shankar Gaonkar, denied the allegations and said that the school had been organising visits to temples, churches and mosques for years in order to promote communal harmony.

However, VHP’s South Goa joint secretary Sanjiv Korgaonkar alleged that the school principal had not informed the students’ parents about the workshop.

“Some photos of school children performing rituals at the mosque and wearing hijab have been circulating on social media. We took up the matter with the school authorities. It has also been learnt that the students of a government school in Baina had attended the workshop. This programme was not part of the curriculum and no approvals had been taken from the Education Department,” he said.

A teacher at the Baina government high school that Korgaonkar referred to said a group of 22 students from that school, accompanied by two teachers, had also gone for the workshop. The teacher, who did not want to be identified, said the Education Department had since sought a report from the school regarding the incident.

Police sources said that while members of the VHP had gone to the Baina school also to confront school authorities, a police team had reached the spot before the protesters and ensured that there was no law and order issue there.

Members of the VHP said they had approached the Education Department to look into the circumstances under which students from the government school were sent for the workshop.

At a press conference this week, the VHP said the workshop, which they claimed invited Hindu students to “learn Islamic rituals”, was unwarranted and unnecessary. They demanded strict action against the management of the Alto Dabolim private school, and called for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate and the vigilance department into the school’s funding.

In their police complaint, the VHP alleged that the workshop was organised on the invitation of a group affiliated with the banned Popular Front of India.

The organisers of the workshop, the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO), said it was “unfortunate” that the programme was being portrayed negatively by some people, and alleged that there were political motivations behind this portrayal.

In a statement, the SIO, Goa zone, said: “The motto of this activity has always been to clear the misunderstandings of our fellow brothers from other faiths, including the Hindu and Christian communities, about various aspects of Islam.” The statement said that the organisation had regularly received questions on whether women were allowed to enter mosques – women can enter mosques, the SIO said – and regarding what happens inside a mosque, whom do Muslims pray to and so on.

“It is to clear these doubts and to promote a general spirit of amity that SIO organises such activities,” the statement said.

State secretary of the SIO’s Goa zone, Yunus Mulla, said a programme for students to visit a mosque in the area had been organised annually since 2013 as part of several initiatives to enhance understanding between communities. “For the last two-three years, due to Covid, the workshop was not held,” he said.

Mulla said a letter requesting permission for students to attend the workshop at Masjid-e-Noor mosque in Alto Dabolim on August 31, was sent to five higher secondary schools and one college. The workshop was postponed to September 9 for logistical reasons and at least 44 students from two schools – Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School and Government High School in Baina – attended the workshop, which lasted more than two hours.

A letter the SIO sent to the schools on August 25 about the workshop read: “The objective is to promote tolerance, dialogue, cooperation, and understanding among people of different faiths. It will boost mutual understanding between students of different faiths and cultures, and enhance their understanding and appreciation of religions and its practices.”

As part of the workshop, Mulla said, the students were taken around the mosque complex and informed about practices and customs. “I showed them the area where prayers are conducted, how a volunteer reads namaz…The students asked some questions. It was all educational. A short PPT (Powerpoint presentation) was also shown to the students. After the workshop, students were given refreshments,” he said.

“As a mark of respect, some girls covered their heads with the dupatta of their school uniform. Some boys washed their face, arms, feet…no one was forced or coerced to perform any rituals. These allegations are false and are being spread to create disharmony,” he said.

After pictures of the workshop were circulated on social media, “a section of people” spread rumours that students were forced to perform rituals, Mullah said.

Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School principal Shankar Gaonkar said 22 students, including four girls, were taken for the workshop and were accompanied by a teacher.

“The group comprised students from all faiths. No student was forced to attend the workshop. I had placed the invite for the workshop before the school management and also made an announcement in the assembly regarding the same. No student was asked to perform any ritual,” he said.

“For several years, we have been organising such visits to temples, churches and mosques to educate students about all religions and promote harmony. Children from all communities study here. There has never been any issue or discord,” he added.

Gaonkar and Mulla both were questioned by Vasco police last Monday after VHP members filed the complaint.

On Wednesday, a group of students from Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School staged a protest, demanding that the principal’s suspension be revoked.

Five students from both schools that took part in the workshop told The Indian Express that they were not forced to attend the workshop or to perform any religious rituals.

Pandurang Gaonkar, chairman of the Keshav Smruti Higher Secondary School, said the school suspended the principal due to “pressure” from protesters who had gathered at the school on Monday. Referring to the VHP’s protest, he asked, “A mob had come to the school. What else could I have done?”

“We celebrate festivals of all communities at the school. Today (Friday), we are having a puja in the school on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi,” he said. However, the chairman added that “some arguments put forth by VHP are valid too. In hindsight, I think it was a mistake to send the students for the workshop. In future, we will be wary.”

On the principal’s suspension, he said: “We have sent a report to the government and a decision on revoking the suspension will be taken in due course of time. Classes are continuing normally. We want this matter to end now.”