Dip-checking refers to testing the waters to gauge the reaction to an idea or action. In social contexts, it involves putting forth a proposal or demand to see how people respond before fully committing to it. If the reaction is negative, the initiators might withdraw or modify their proposal.
For example, in Kerala, Muslim girl students initially demanded a separate room for Namaz at Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha on 26 July.
The students were led by Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest constituent of the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), and allegedly SFI, the student wing of ruling CPM, blocked the principal of the college in his office for hours together for facilitating namaz area in the girl’s rest room. The issue started when a professor objected to the girl students’ namaz in the classroom. Then the students blocked the principal in his office until he assured them that he would revert with a response on July 29, Monday.
As assured, Nirmala College Principal Fr. Justin K. Kuriakose told a press conference on July 29 that students’ demands would never be conceded. Such demand arises first time in the 71-year-old history of the college. He asked the concerned people to avoid the wrong sort of propaganda which may lead to religious animosity. The Principal expressed a strong stand that the college would continue the policy which it has been following since its very inception.
Kevin Peter of the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Actions (CASA) told the media that there are three mosques just 200 metres away from the college and one of them admits women for prayers.
The above statement clears the stand of Nirmala College, one of the prominent colleges among the autonomous institutions in the state. The decades-old arts and science college is under the Kothamangalam Arch Diocese of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
The college management and people of Kerala were afraid that the Nirmala College issue would develop like hijab agitation which shook Karnataka a couple of years back. Similarly, Muslim students in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College once demanded permission to wear religious headgear even in the operation theatre. Since college authorities refused to concede, the agitation died its natural death.
As per sources, on July 29, the office-bearers of the Muslim Mahal Committees in the surrounding area, met the principal of the Nirmala college and expressed their regret about the Muslim students’ demand stating that it was an error from students’ side. Additionally, some Muslim scholars also have regretted the incident.
The Mahal Committee consists of Muslim members who hold a significant influence on their community in their daily lives and particularly in their religious affairs
BJP, Hindu Aikyavedi and several Hindu and nationalist organisations and several Christian Churches had denounced and lambasted the Muslim students’ demand and action. Perhaps, that is why the Mahal Committees took the above-mentioned stand.
Following the meeting of Mahal Committee and college administration, it can be presumed that the students are free to go to nearby mosques for Friday prayers and namaz.
Interestingly, in Kerala, college and school with state board Kerala syllabus, cutting across religious lines, get fifteen minutes more, for lunch break, on Fridays, than on other working days. The excess interval period is for Muslim students to go to the Mosque to offer namaz. Therefore, observers do not see any rhyme or reason for the fresh demand to have the facility to offer namaz in the college.
On July 4, 2010, PFI terrorists chopped the hands of Malayalam Professor T.J. Joseph, who was teaching at Newman College, Thodupuzha, alleging blasphemy. The Nirmala College is just 20 kilometres away from Newman College and both are under the same management. This signifies the kind of pressure this college management undergoes in its affairs, particularly in dealing with demands that arise from radical Muslim students. Therefore, the development at Nirmala College brought anxieties to the hearts of millions of Keralites.
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