School Disallows Student Entry for ‘Tilak’; MP Education Dept Asks Institution to Maintain Religious Harmony

A private school in Indore in Madhya Pradesh has asked the education ministry to maintain “all religious harmony” after it banned a student from wearing a tilak (a religious sign on the forehead with the color vermilion), an official said on Sunday.

A video of the student standing outside Shree Bal Vigyan Shishu Vihar High School went viral on social media claiming that he was not allowed to enter because he was wearing a tilak.

The student also claimed that the school authorities said they would give him a transfer certificate in case the act was repeated.

Another video showed some people arguing with the school authorities about how they can ban someone from coming to an educational institution just because they wear a tilak.

In the video, a female teacher can be heard saying that the school was being run on the basis of “sarva dharma sambhaav” (equality and harmony of all religions).

District Education Officer (DEO) Manglish Kumar Vyas told reporters on Sunday that he had discussed the issue with the principal of the school.

“The headmaster told me that some people give this matter undue importance. However, he expressed regret and said he would hold a meeting with the students’ parents to solve this problem.”

The management of the school has been requested to maintain harmony among all religions in the institution. To maintain discipline in schools, students can be required to wear the same uniform. However, if a student comes to school with Tilak on his birthday, after worship or on any special occasion, he cannot be asked to remove it.”

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(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)