CHENNAI: The Headmistress of Kshatriya Vidyalaya Centenary School (KVCS) has sparked controversy amid allegations of converting students and coercing them to chant songs praising Jesus.
A letter dated October 14, obtained by the Organiser, reveals internal disputes within the school management. The letter, written by a management functionary to members of the KVS Managing Trust Board, claims that KMR Karthikeyan, who served as chairman from November 2023 to August 2024, was not informed about the appointment of the new headmistress.
According to the correspondence, the previous headmaster was replaced without the board’s approval, particularly that of the chairman. The letter details that the new headmistress was offered a monthly salary of Rs 1.70 lakh, along with a car, chauffeur, and petrol expenses, all of which were finalised without prior consent from the board. The chairman was only informed of the new appointment on the day of her joining, raising questions about the transparency and governance within the school’s management.
The situation has led to significant concern among parents and the community, calling for an investigation into the school’s administrative practices.
The letter further states, “Upon verification, we found that the newly appointed Headmistress is a Christian who had previously worked at the same school but was dismissed due to allegations of converting students to Christianity. Several students had lodged complaints with the management regarding her proselytizing efforts.
Shortly after her arrival, she replaced the school’s traditional prayer song with a Christian hymn featuring musical rhythms. Prior to lunchtime, she compelled students to pray to Jesus for their meals through song. Additionally, during the annual function held at VHNSSN College, winning students were blessed with the Holy Cross placed on their foreheads, accompanied by the chant ‘Jesus will save you.’ It is alleged that she has exploited every opportunity to convert students to Christianity.”
In response to the Headmistress’s proselytizing activities, a letter dated August 27 was circulated among all board members, condemning her actions. Following detailed discussions on the matter, the board reached a unanimous decision on August 29 to put an end to her conversion efforts within the school. They emphasized that religious conversion should not be politicized and agreed to communicate these two conditions to her.
Before assuming her new role, she had provided an undertaking stating that she would refrain from engaging in conversion activities; however, she has since violated that pledge. It was reported that she reached out to a prominent member of the Hindu Nadar community, known for his influence with the ruling party, to discuss the recent developments. This individual, who had converted to Christianity following the lead of his mother, sought support from her and other pro-Christian board members. Consequently, he contacted the board secretary to arrange an emergency meeting to address these issues concerning the Headmistress.
The letter’s author stated, “I attended the meeting in person, but there was no discussion about the issue of religious conversion. Instead, they asserted that all Nadar community schools and colleges are under their control, insisting that we should follow their directives and dismissing any notion of democratic dialogue.” This reflects the tone of the warning issued to him. He added that the pro-Christian faction demanded his resignation, instructing him to leave the position.
Despite justifying his condemnation of the Headmistress’s actions, he faced charges of arbitrariness and high-handedness. In light of these circumstances, he submitted his resignation to the secretary.
Having previously served as a headmaster at the same school, he insisted he had done nothing wrong. However, he claimed he was forced to resign by the pro-Christian Nadar lobby, which fully supported the Headmistress’s activities. It is believed that her appointment was part of a deliberate strategy to promote similar actions across other educational institutions under the board, marking the beginning of a larger initiative.
The letter appeals to board members to take decisive action against the ongoing conversion and Christianisation efforts of the group in question, urging immediate measures to prevent the situation from escalating. The author warns that if left unchecked, students may be swayed into converting to Christianity through the deceptive and glorifying rhetoric aimed at their beliefs.
He calls on every board member and the Kutralam Friends Group, who are committed to opposing these wrongs, to unite in their efforts to thwart this agenda. The goal is to ensure that all educational institutions fall under the Hindu Nadar community’s oversight while isolating the pro-Christian lobby. He insists that the Headmistress should be dismissed immediately.
Additionally, the letter raises concerns about the legal misrepresentation of her role, stating, “They refer to the Principal as the Chief Administrator of the school. This raises a critical question: whether her title is Principal or Chief Administrator, why create such a confusing distinction? It also brings into question whether she possesses the qualifications and experience necessary to serve as Headmistress. It appears her appointment aligns with the pro-Christian lobby’s plans to convert students.”
