School bans national anthem, teachers quit

Authorities said that a probe has been launched against MA Convent School based in Baghara locality of the city in the matter and maintained that it was not recognised by the education department. Ziaul Haq, the school manager, told the teachers that singing of the national anthem could not be allowed as the phrase Bharat Bhagya Vidhata in its first stanza went against the tenets of Islam, according to the teachers who resigned two days ago. The manager said that if they were not in agreement, they could leave. “ The school has never allowed the singing of national anthem in the last 12 years. Seven of my colleagues have resigned in protest against this attitude,” Ritu Tripathi, who was the principal, said. Haq stuck to his guns asserting “only Allah can be the Bhagya Vidhata, which means the one who decides our destiny. How can we call Bharat our Bhagya Vidhata ?” The school has around 300 students.