Barred from crooning 'jana gana mana', principal, teachers quit school
For his part, the manager has justified his objections citing religious reasons. He, in fact, told reporters that the national anthem had never been sung on the school campus, and could not be allowed as it was "un-Islamic".
A principal and eight teachers have quit a school in Allahabad in protest against the school administration not allowing the singing of the national anthem saying it was against his religion (Islam).
Ritu Shukla, the principal of the MA Convent School in Sadiyabad area, has charged the school manager Zia-ul-Haq with undermining national interest by not allowing the children to sing the national anthem. She said that she and the other teachers were planning a special programme for Independence Day (August 15) in which the children were supposed to sing the national anthem.
"The manager says we can't sing 'Jana gana mana', not even 'Vande Mataram' or 'Saraswati vandana' as it violates his religion (Islam). This is ridiculous," she told the media. She said she had informed the manager that she along with eight other teachers were quitting in view of the "shocking circumstances".
"If we do not teach our children our national anthem and national song or other patriotic songs, what kind of education are we giving them?" she said.
For his part, the manager has justified his objections citing religious reasons. He, in fact, told reporters that the national anthem had never been sung on the school campus, and could not be allowed as it was "un-Islamic".
"In the national anthem, the country has been described as being bigger and more important than 'mazhab' (religion) and 'khuda' (god) which would be unacceptable to any true Muslim," he said. He pointed out that Bharat had been termed "bhagya vidhata" (master of destiny) in the national anthem.
"This is against Islam as nothing can be above 'allah'. I don't believe in the national anthem so I have never allowed it to be sung in my school," he asserted.
Meanwhile, the principal has said she was contemplating legal action against the school manager as his stand on the issue was tantamount to being anti-national.