Muslim Boy’s Expulsion Highlights Hindutva’s Discrimination in Schools

Muslim Boy’s Expulsion Highlights Hindutva’s Discrimination in Schools

December 20, 2024 Off By Sharp Media

When a 7-year-old is punished for his dietary choices, India’s secular façade crumbles under the weight of Hindutva’s oppressive grip.

On September 2, a shocking incident in Uttar Pradesh revealed the brutal reality of Hindutva’s grip on Indian schools. Seven-year-old Rihan, a Muslim boy, was beaten, locked in a lab, and expelled from school for bringing non-vegetarian food. Adding insult to injury, the school principal used Islamophobic slurs during his expulsion, showcasing the venomous spread of Hindutva ideology in India’s education system.

Rihan’s mother, Sabra, fought tirelessly for justice but was met with indifference by local authorities. The police and district officials refused to act, exposing the deep-seated institutional bias against minorities. It took court intervention for her pleas to gain any traction, highlighting how India’s legal system often becomes a last resort for marginalized communities.

This incident is not isolated. It underscores a broader trend of systemic marginalization of Muslims in India. The government’s lofty slogans like “One India One Poll” aim to project unity, yet the administration remains silent on such blatant acts of discrimination. These contradictions reveal the hollow nature of India’s secular claims.

India’s Hindutva-driven governance has actively fostered an environment of fear and alienation for minorities. A Pew Research survey from 2023 revealed that 84% of Indian Muslims feel unsafe in their own country. Cases like Rihan’s demonstrate how this sentiment is not misplaced. Dietary habits, cultural practices, and religious identities are weaponized to ostracize Muslims, pushing them to the margins of society.

The expulsion of Muslim children for cultural practices is more than a disciplinary issue—it’s an ideological assault. Hindutva forces aim to erase diversity, using education as a tool for indoctrination and exclusion. By targeting children, they plant seeds of fear and subjugation early, further deepening divisions in an already polarized society.

The international community has taken note. In March 2024, the United Nations condemned India’s suppression of minority rights, citing cases like this as evidence of systemic human rights violations. Yet, India continues to disregard global criticism, clinging to its narrative of being a secular democracy.

This incident demands more than outrage—it calls for action. Holding the perpetrators accountable is only the first step. The larger battle is to dismantle the Hindutva machinery that has infiltrated every aspect of governance and society, undermining India’s pluralistic heritage.