In a growing controversy over religious sensitivity and language instruction in schools, a Muslim school principal in Bijnor district has been suspended after students accused him of compelling them to learn Urdu and making allegedly derogatory remarks about Hindu beliefs.
The incident occurred at a government composite school in Harvampur Dharam village, where Principal Mohammad Salauddin allegedly coerced students, especially those from the majority Hindu community, to study Urdu, which some perceived as a language associated with a particular religion.
The issue surfaced after students staged a protest outside the school gate. A video showing schoolchildren chanting slogans against the principal went viral on social media. In the video, the students alleged that the teacher showed bias towards Urdu learners, refused to teach those unwilling to opt for the subject, and even made comments questioning the existence of Hindu gods.
One student claimed, “He told us, ‘Gods don’t exist, has anyone seen God?’ He used to ignore us if we refused to take Urdu classes.”
The protest and subsequent public reaction led the Basic Education Officer (BSA) Yogendra Kumar to initiate an investigation. The Block Education Officer (BEO) Indrapal Singh recorded statements from students and their parents, which reportedly confirmed the complaints.
Following the inquiry, Principal Mohammad Salauddin was suspended with immediate effect and transferred to another school in Jahanabad Khobra village.
Parents and students had apparently been harbouring grievances against the principal for some time, but the recent viral video provided the trigger for action.
“We were afraid to speak earlier, but our children have suffered for long. Finally, action has been taken,” said Rohitash Singh, a parent of one of the protesting students.
The report submitted by the BEO cited allegations that Salauddin sometimes pressured students, instigated others to harass non-Urdu learners, and neglected students who didn’t comply with his teaching preferences.
BSA Yogendra Kumar emphasised strict adherence to secular principles in education:
“No teacher has the right to discriminate on religious lines. Every child deserves equal education. This behaviour is unacceptable and violates the ethos of our schools.”
