The Nirmala College in Kerala's Moovattupuzha has recently become the center of controversy over students' religious rights.
Published Jul 28, 2024 | 8:13 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2024 | 12:35 PM
Some students of Nirmala College protested for space to offer Namaz, and this issue has sparked both political and social discussions.
“Without a hint of emotion, the doctor said, there is no point using defibrillators on a dead body. I felt I was losing weight. Someone held me and sat me on a chair. After a while, another doctor came and took my hands. I didn’t then realise that he was a doctor. I thought he was someone who knew me. With great despair, I said, ‘My wife died. Just now. When I said that, what was I expecting? Mercy or sympathy? After that, no one came near me. I sat like a fully defeated man.”- Prof T J Joseph’s memoir ‘Attupokatha Ormakal’ (A Thousand Cuts in English).
The book recounts the harrowing experience of a former Malayalam professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha who, in 2010 framed a question for an internal semester exam for B.Com students. The question sparked outrage among Muslim fringe elements, leading them to ambush him. When the opportunity arose, they dragged him from his car and, in front of his mother and sister, severed his right hand.
Just 18 kilometers from Newman College in Thodupuzha is Nirmala College in Moovattupuzha, which has recently become the center of a controversy across Kerala. The dispute erupted over the demand to allocate space for Friday prayers (Jumah) on the college campus. On Sunday, 28 July a group of students staged a protest in front of the principal’s office, demanding a space for conducting noon prayers.
In response, the college management has maintained that no religious activities will be permitted on the premises, emphasising on the institution’s secular nature. Students who submit a written request will be allowed to attend prayers at a nearby mosque, and they will receive attendance relaxation for the time spent away from campus, they were told.
According to the protesters, a group of female students used to hold prayers in the girls’ rest room at their college. On 26 July, the college administration questioned this practice and directed the students involved to meet with the principal. This prompted a protest, with students from various organisations coming together to support the practice.
Fr. Justin Kannadan, Principal of Nirmala College, elaborated the scenario to South First, “On Friday, our non-teaching staff reported that a group of students were performing Namaz in the girls’ waiting room. When the staff informed them that this was not permitted, the students came to my office to request permission for their prayers. I explained that, as a secular institution, we cannot accommodate such practices.”
He further said, ‘Subsequently, a group of students staged a protest, claiming that their prayers had been disrupted. We then invited their leaders for a meeting, where they requested a designated area on campus for Namaz every afternoon as part of their religious practice. I reiterated that this could not be allowed on the premises and directed them instead to the mosque located just 200 meters from the college. They left after submitting a letter requesting our decision by Monday.”
On 27 July, Pratheesh Viswanath, a Hindu activist and founder of Hindu Seva Kendra in Kerala, shared a video on his X account depicting a protest. In the video, he alleges that the protest was organised by a “group of young jihadis” within the leftist student movement.
He also raised questions including, “are our educational instituitions meant to be centres of learning or breeding grounds for religious and ideological divisions? Whose doctrine promotes such sectarisanism and extremism?”
SFI State secretary PM Arsho told South First. ‘’ The SFI has not organised any protests at Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, in support of any religious group’s right to worship. In a recent issue where two students prayed in class, the protest by the entire class in front of the principal’s office was not an initiative of the SFI, including its area president and other members studying at the campus. It is alleged that the RSS and other affiliated groups are spreading misinformation about the SFI’s involvement in this matter.’’
Rajeev Kochu Parambil, State President of the Catholic Congress (a global committee of the Syro-Malabar Church), told South First, “Prayer rooms to conduct namaz cannot be allowed in educational institutions under Syro-Malabar churches. However, students can perform namaz at a nearby mosque. Due to the fact that girls are not allowed into mosques, it is not feasible to accommodate a prayer room for them inside college. Instead of fighting for space for prayer in Christian-managed institutions, protesters should approach Muslim spiritual leaders to discuss allowing girls into mosques.”
“SFI is now stating that they weren’t involved in this protest. This is not true. This statement comes as a result of political pressure from senior left leaders.” he added.
Dr. Prameela Devi, a former member of the Kerala Women’s Commission and State vice president of BJP, said while speaking to South First,
“When I heard about the protest concerning namaz at Nirmala College, Muvattupuzha, I was reminded of the incident involving Professor P.J. Joseph at New Man’s College in Thodupuzha, where his hand was chopped off. Thodupuzha and Muvattupuzha are nearby areas. Everyone has the right to practice their religion, but the question is, where?’’ she asked.
‘’ In India, many educational institutions are affiliated with various religions, and it is up to the management to decide what is permissible. A room for namaz is not needed in a Christian educational institution. Do Muslim-managed institutions allow Hindu and Christian students to perform their rituals? Has there been any protest from students about this? It seems to me that this is a strategy by the Left to retain their Muslim vote bank, with SFI, a student union, providing support for the party.” she added.
Adv. Rajagopal Vakathanam, Editor of Yukthi Rekha and vice president of Kerala Yukthivadi Sanghom told South First, “These issues may ultimately benefit the Sangh Parivar in India. Even in Iran, a president elected with significant support from women suggests a shift towards secularism beyond religious laws. In Kerala, despite the progressive LDF government, it seems the state is moving backward. Educational institutions in Kerala advocate for the right to education for all, not for religious practices. They have not criticised the new educational policy, which has controversial elements concerning reservations. Yet, they now raise issues regarding religious practices. Under the guise of minority rights, they engage in actions that could boost the BJP’s vote share, as seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”
”SFI issued a statement denying any responsibility for the controversy, despite their leaders participating in the protests. This response is problematic. The SFI should either address this issue directly or protest against the threatening incidents affecting Kerala’s future. The BJP IT cells are adept at using such controversies on a national level.” he added.
(Edited by Neena)
(South First is now on WhatsApp and Telegram)
