A 15-year-old Class 10 student at a Christian girls’ convent in Thuckalay, Kanyakumari district, has accused the headmistress of assaulting her and forcing her to remove the mala and kaappu she was wearing for the Dasara festival at the Mutharamman Temple in Kulasekarapattinam. The student also alleged that school staff had repeatedly targeted her for wearing the religious accessories and pressured her to stay in the hostel.
The incident triggered a confrontation at the school, with the student’s father, relatives and members of Hindu organisations demanding an explanation from the management. The school authorities reportedly apologised after discussions, assuring them that such an incident would not recur.
‘Made Me Stand for 45 Minutes’
The student, Mithuna, is the daughter of Kannan, a daily-wage worker from Kollanvilai near Thuckalay. She studies at Amala Convent Girls’ School in Thuckalay.
According to Mithuna, she had taken leave from school and subsequently went to obtain the required signature. While other students were reportedly given their signatures, she alleged that she was made to wait for around 45 minutes.
She said the headmistress then questioned her about the mala and kaappu she was wearing as part of her religious observance for the Kulasekarapattinam Mutharamman Temple’s Dasara festival.
Mithuna alleged that the headmistress told her to conceal the mala and remove the kaappu, insisting that these items were not permitted under school rules. She claimed that she was scolded, assaulted and ordered to remove the religious accessories before she could enter the classroom.
The student further alleged that the assault damaged her black bead mala.
Student Alleges Repeated Objections to Her Religious Accessories
Mithuna claimed that this was the third time she had faced such treatment at the school. According to her, she had previously been told to hide her mala because its bright yellow and green colours were allegedly considered inappropriate.
She also alleged that the staff compared her mala unfavourably with Christian prayer beads worn by other students, claiming that those were less visible.
The student said the objections had made her increasingly reluctant to attend school. She also alleged that teachers repeatedly directed her to stand in the hostel whenever she approached them for signatures on leave-related documents or sports forms.
According to Mithuna, staff had pressured her to stay in the hostel and referred to the fact that her mother was not present to look after her. She alleged that this pressure had continued for some time.
These allegations have not been independently verified, and the school’s full response to the specific claims remains unclear.
Hindu Organisations Confront School Management
After learning about the incident, Mithuna’s father and relatives approached Hindu organisation representatives, including Hindu Munnani district president and advocate Arumugam and BJP functionaries.
They went to the school and confronted the headmistress, demanding an explanation for the alleged assault and the insistence that the student remove her religious accessories.
Thuckalay police arrived at the school and held discussions with the student, her relatives and the school authorities.
According to Arumugam, the school authorities eventually acknowledged that a mistake had been made and apologised, assuring those present that such incidents would not happen again. He also said the police had assured them that the student would not face further problems.
The protest ended following these assurances. Arumugam said the student should be able to continue her Class 10 education without further trouble, with any decision about changing schools left to her parents.
The student’s family and Hindu organisations have called for an inquiry into the headmistress’s alleged conduct and assurances that the student will not be subjected to further harassment over her religious observances.
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