Kerala college shuts down after student groups clash over purdah row

While the issue has been brewing since the beginning of this academic year, the clashes were triggered after four third-year BA English students wore a purdah to class on Wednesday.
Image for representation only.
Image for representation only.

KANHANGAD: Classes were suspended at C K Nair Arts and Management College after two student groups clashed over allowing purdah on campus. Principal A C Kunhikannan Nair said a conciliatory meeting of parents has been called on Saturday.

"I hope the college will reopen on Monday," A C Kunhikannan Nair said. He said they had a uniform and allowed civil dress on Wednesdays. However, attire such as face-covering purdah, collarless T-shirts, leggings, and red, green and saffron lungis were not allowed on campus, Nair added.

While the issue has been brewing since the beginning of this academic year, the clashes were triggered after four third-year BA English students wore a purdah to class on Wednesday, said teachers and students.

On August 2, a third year student of BA English came to class wearing 'face-covering' purdah, said the principal. "The teacher warned her and asked her to removed it as it was against the dress code," said a classmate.

In protest, four students came to class wearing purdah this Wednesday and were sent to the Principal when they refused to take it off

"We were defiant because the principal was trying to ban purdah. This rule was not there in our first two years on campus," said Rahminas, one of the students. She said she decided to wear the purdah last Wednesday to express solidarity.

As news, that four women were not allowed to enter class for wearing a purdah, members of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the National Student League (NSL), the student arm of the Indian National League, marched to the principal's cabin and allegedly created a ruckus.

Seeing this, the Students Federation of India (SFI) -- which controls the college union -- conducted a counter protest march. Teachers had to intervene to break the two clashing groups.

On Thursday, the SFI alleged a group of students led by district Kerala Students Union leaders assaulted three of its members. In a police complaint, it said SFI unit president and area vice-president Muhammed Shibil (21), and members Nithin Chandran (21) and Sreehari (21) were injured. The MSF too had given a counter complaint.

A C Kunhikannan Nair said a section of students was using purdah as a prop for political gains on campus. "The college allows female students to use headscarf with their uniform. Even purdah is allowed on Wednesday provided they do not cover their face," he said. On other days too, there is no restriction in coming to campus wearing burqa. "But they will have to remove it for class," he said.

Muhammed Shibil, SFI unit president and third year BCom student said the left organisation won all the union seats in the last election.

"Though the campus has a sizeable number of Muslim students, the MSF could not even win one seat in the past three years. Now it is using purdah to attract freshers to its fold," he alleged. The college election is on August 24.

However, Rahminas said she and her friends had nothing to do with politics. "The clashes were unfortunate but we are standing against the ban on purdah. I am surprised SFI turned against us," she said.

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