HYDERABAD: A complaint has been lodged with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) against Stella Maris School in Visakhapatnam following a controversial anti-Diwali rally on October 30, 2024, allegedly involving minor students. Filed by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), the complaint accuses the school management of using young children to participate in a rally that promoted negative sentiments toward the Hindu festival of Diwali, an important religious celebration in Hindutva.
Wrote to National Child Rights Commission seeking action against Stella Maris School, Visakhapatnam for organizing anti-Diwali rally involving minor children, attempting to instill in them negative sentiments towards #SanatanaDharma. Sought cancellation of School's recognition. pic.twitter.com/I7yLLgmuG0
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) November 1, 2024
According to the complaint, children were reportedly seen carrying placards and chanting slogans that discouraged the celebration of Deepawali, sparking outrage among local communities. The Hyderabad based LRPF argues that this act could be an attempt by the school’s management to instill religious bias in the impressionable minds of minors, leading to potential psychological harm.
Demand for Action
In its complaint, the LRPF has urged the NCPCR to investigate the school’s conduct, emphasizing that Hindu students were allegedly involved in activities critical of their own culture and faith, an act that could foster religious intolerance. The forum has also requested that the Police Commissioner of Visakhapatnam be alerted to investigate the rally and urged the District Collector to consider withdrawing the school’s recognition if found to be in violation of educational and child protection laws.
In February 2024, an incident involving the disrespect of Hindu traditions by a Christian school’s management occurred at the Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Telangana. During a school visit to the temple, students were reportedly encouraged to consume non-vegetarian food within the temple premises, a practice deeply disrespectful to Hindu traditions. Although the students were minors and likely unaware of the religious significance, the school management faced intense backlash, with many perceiving it as a deliberate act of disregard for Hindu customs. While the school management eventually issued an apology and promised corrective action, the incident left a lasting strain on communal relations, fueling broader concerns about the respect for religious traditions in educational settings.
There are some details which non-Telugu people should know from this video
👉Feeding Chicken Biryani on Ramappa temple premises.
👉That’s a Saturday. Telugu Hindus will not eat non-veg on Saturday due to Tiruamala Balaji.😡Those missionary people are feeding the kids non-veg,… https://t.co/0W4rGsxux4— Tathvam-asi (@tathvamasi6) February 6, 2024
A Broader Historical Analysis of Missionary Influence in India
The incident at Stella Maris School brings into focus a longstanding pattern of Christian missionary institutions demoralising or attacking Hindu cultural and religious sentiment in India. Christian missionary schools in India have often operated with a dual purpose: on one hand, offering education, and on the other, subtly promoting Christian doctrines and religious conversions. This tactic traces its origins back to colonial times when Christian missionaries, with support from the British Empire, sought to instill Christian and Western ideologies in Hindus through education.
Missionary institutions frequently embed Christian values into their curriculums and campus activities under the guise of social service providers. With India’s independence, while overt colonial support ended, the influence of missionary schools persisted, adapting to the new socio-political environment. Missionary schools continued their religious theological work by rebranding as charitable and service-oriented institutions, often undermining local traditions and beliefs under the pretense of modernity and moral reform.
This approach aimed at soft power through educational influence has rarely been addressed or critically examined over the years. Recent incidents, like the anti-Diwali rally at Stella Maris School, reflect a covert agenda that has operated unchecked within our education system, using events, programs, and curriculums to shape young minds away from Hindu religious and cultural practices.
As per Catholic news service, the Church in India runs more than 50,000 educational institutions, including schools and 400 colleges, six universities, and six medical schools.
Member of LRPF team speaking with Organiser, said, “This incident at Stella Maris School is merely a visible example of a deeply rooted strategy in which Christian missionary organisations have played a historically persistent role in shaping non-Christian societies worldwide. By embedding specific values within the education system, missionary schools have extended their ideological influence far beyond the classroom, shaping cultural narratives over generations.
It is well known that Christian missionary schools often discourage school-going girls from wearing bangles, flowers, or tilak, citing various reasons. However, this is seen as a subtle way of distancing students from their cultural traditions,” he added.
Public Outcry and Concern
Community leaders and local organisations have expressed deep concern over the school’s actions, condemning the rally as an infringement on children’s rights and an attempt to introduce divisive sentiments under the guise of education.
Parents and community members are now demanding transparency and accountability, urging authorities to ensure that children are not used to propagate religious biases or forced into activities that undermine their cultural heritage.
