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Sikhs fight for turban, not in
France, but in Punjab
School principal says turbans not allowed till Class X; “It’s easier
to carry a patka,” is her line; SGPC protests, Police get into it
WSN Bureau
MOHALI:
Forget
France,
and forget airport security in the
United States.
Battlelines are far closer home. Just a few miles from the residence
of Akali Dal patron and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, a public
school has turned out teenaged students because they were wearing
turbans. That the turbans’ color conformed with the school’s
prescribed uniform did not matter.
Fully aware of
the Sikhs’ sensitivities and the fact that a turban is an integral
part of a Sikh’s existence, the Lawrence Public Senior Secondary
School in Mohali on the outskirts of Chandigarh told three students
of Class X that they can only wear their blue ‘patka’ or go home.
And home they were sent, after being detained for some time in the
school’s sick room. School principal Veena Malhotra called wearing
of turbans as “violation of school rules” and remained adamant that
only students of Classes XI and XII can sport a turban.
The enraged
parents have reacted strongly and the SGPC has called for strict and
immediate police action for “hurting Sikh sentiments”. “If turbans
are banned in Punjab, how will we fight the turban ban in other
countries?” SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar asked, notwithstanding
the fact that SGPC has been putting up little in the name of a
fight.
The three
students Gursewak Singh, Ravi Inder Singh and Inderjeet Singh are
feeling dejected. Gursewak had been going to school wearing a
turban for the last five days despite being asked not to by his
class teacher. The principal reacted when two more of his classmates
also came with turbans.
Gursewak’s
father, along with some media persons, had come to the school to
raise an objection, but the Principal started reading the rule book.
Her argument: “Tying a ‘patka’ is not only less time-consuming, but
it is also easier to carry. Our parent- teacher association had held
a meeting a decade ago, where it was decided to allow turbans only
for Class XI and XII students. Most of the students and faculty of
this school are Sikhs and even I belong to a Sikh family, but I fail
to understand the objection,” said Malhotra, married to a Hindu.
Gursewak’s
father Rajendra Singh, who has lodged a formal complaint with the
SGPC, said he would withdraw his son from the school if he was not
allowed to wear a turban. City police officials said an inquiry is
on by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
30
April 2008
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