BENGALURU: Children of Class 1 of a reputed north Bengaluru school were set to have a Chinese New Year Day celebration today, wearing traditional robes and gorging on some Chinese momos and manchurian. But the event has now been called off after a few leaders from the BJP and its student affiliate ABVP saw red, in the backdrop of the frosty ties with China over Doklam. ABVP activists even threatened to shut down the school if the event was held.
Delhi Public School (DPS) North had planned the Friday activity to familiarise children with cultures of six countries, including China. It had issued a circular on August 3 to parents of children from three sections of Class 1, instructing them to bring stationery items like glitter tube, decorative stickers, red sheets and so on. Parents were also requested to dress up their children in traditional Chinese or any red-coloured attire and pack some Chinese food like noodles, fried rice, momos or manchurian in the lunch boxes.
On Thursday, some prominent BJP leaders called the school management and ordered them to cancel the event or face protests outside the school. A group of ABVP activists also met the principal. Prashant, an ABVP organising secretary, said, “The school management tried to explain, but we told them if they don’t withdraw, we will not allow the school to function.”
The activists also told them to hold a Nation First programme at the school on Friday instead of on China. “If they don’t get better speakers, we will send them one. The management finally relented,” he added.
On Thursday, DPS issued an official communication stating “all the events organised on August 11 related to six different countries stands cancelled”.
School principal Manju Balasubramanyam said, “It was part of an event organised by the British Council to introduce children to global culture. Children were to celebrate the culture of six different countries, including India. We had selected different themes for different levels. For class 1, the theme chosen was new year and for sections A, B and C it was China while for sections D, E and F it was Denmark. Similarly, France, Italy and India were picked for other classes. At higher level, the theme was an introduction to the economies of the different countries. Now, the entire event has been cancelled.”
‘We can’t instil hatred in children’s minds’
A Chinese New Year Day celebration at Delhi Public School (DPS) North, organised by the British Council to introduce children to global culture, was cancelled after a few leaders from the BJP and ABVP threatened to stage a protest against the school.
D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of Associated Management of Private Schools in Karnataka, said, “The timing of the event may have been right but organising it wasn’t wrong. We can’t instil hatred in children’s minds against a neighbouring country. Today, they may be enemies, tomorrow they may become friends. The school has been conducting the event for many years as part of academic activity and there was no vested interest. Unnecessarily, this has taken a political turn and we condemn it.”
While the stand of parents is not clear, one parent said, “When the country is facing a threat of war from China and supporting a ban on Chinese goods, was there a need to include their new year celebration in the activity?”
After ABVP activists and media gathered near the school, the Block Education Officer (BEO) visited the school and said, “The school did not take permission from us to conduct the event. I will submit a report to Deputy Director about this.” This statement has ruffled private schools.
Shashi Kumar said, “What was the BEO’s business there. Is there a rule asking schools to get permission to conduct regular events. Higher authorities must take note of such officials.”