School In Punjab Makes Turbans Mandatory For All Students

[2desi]

School in Punjab makes turbans mandatory for all

Sangrur: The Akal Acedemy, a school in Cheema Mandi has asked its students, irrespective of religion, to wear turbans.

However, the Hindu parents have reacted sharply to the order issued on Thursday and a hartal was observed in the town on Friday against the orders.

"We requested the school authorities not to implement the order but they refused. They even said that we can take away our children from the school if we want,” says parent. Gore Lal.

The new rule has met with stiff resistance from non-Sikh students. “We are Hindus. We are not supposed to wear head gears but the school authorities seem adamant on turban issue,” says another parent, Ashok Kumar.

One may have heard of controversies over wearing turbans in France. However, this one is at home, in Punjab. The school authorities say the turban is part of school uniform and is mentioned in the prospectus. They add that students who don't wear turbans will be fined.

“It is a part of the dress code. It's mentioned in the prospectus,” says School Principal, Swarb Kaur.

The police have stepped in to prevent any violence as emotions run high. “We will not let any untoward incident happen. We will try and resolve the issue amicably,” says Station House Officer, Police Station, Sunam, Harjinder Singh.

The Akal Academy has 1,400 students and around 20 per cent of them are Hindus while the rest 80 per cent are Sikhs. The school authorities insist the rule on turbans will not be changed and add that those students who don't want to wear the headgear, can leave.

There is also a video: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/school-in-punj...ll/64935-3.html

- I hate how the media is calling the Dastars "head gear".

[Laadli Fauj]

aaarrghhh

thats stupid

as sikhs, we dont force our religion on others

[guruji's_student]

thats dumb man !! ....sikhi saroop for sikhs yeah vadiya....but why enforce it on other religons! ....just gna disrespect the sikhi saroop .....

waheguru

[guptveer1469]

Finally, some good news. I thought in India only Hindus could force things on others... But happy to see it can also be vice-versa.

[Bored]

stupid

[Guest peacemaker]

That's just gaumless!

[Laadli Fauj]

scannilis

[buddasingh]

It is stupid if it's forcing religion on all. BUT hold on!!

Do the turbans they are asking everyone to wear have anything to do with religion?

Is there any religious infringement on others if they are simply asking them to wear turbans (not Sikh dastars necessarily) as part of a school uniform?

To my knowledge a non-sikh turban is no more against hindu faith than shoes are against hindu faith. The parents are not protesting wearing black polished shoes?

It would be wrong to suggest to a jewish student for example that s/he has to wear a turban if s/he is wearing a yarmuka. There should be a very clear message that the turban need not be a 'sikh dastar' for those of other faiths and they should ensure that all faiths are respected, otherwise sikhi is insulted.

Education is a challenge in an indian culture which shuns it's beloved history with the turban, yet embraces corporate baseball caps, which may as well be symbols of blind pride in imperialistic slavery. I'm sure there are the very intelligent voices amongst the hindu populace, but not sure if the media will let them be heard.

[proactive]

Good point Buddasingh. It's funny how this news seems to just come out after Sikh parents protested against a school in Mohali trying to get Sikh students to remove their turbans. Maybe this is a way for the Hindu Punjabis to get their own back. It does seem a bit overblown to have a hartal just because the school wants kids to have a turban. The outrage would make sense if the school rules were changed suddenly to require turbans for non-Sikhs students but Akal academies have always specified turban as part of the school uniform.

[S1ngh]

If you go back several decades.. almost 100% students of sikh named insititutions such as Khalsa college always/have to wear turban whether one is hindu or sikh or muslim. Its the school Uniform policy !