A false report by a local newspaper in Madhya Pradesh led to an FIR being filed against Sister Catherine Vatolly, the principal of Vandana Convent School, on allegations of hurting religious sentiments based on complaints from the RSS’s student wing, ABVP.
The controversy stems from an incident during a school assembly on July 15, 2024, when Sister Vatolly reportedly instructed a student to deliver a speech in English, as per the prior directive to all students.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the student, instead of following the English language instruction, began reciting a verse from the Bhagavad Gita in Hindi. The principal allegedly intervened, urging the student to speak only in English as per the routine, The Wire reported.
This incident was reported by the Hindi daily "Patrika" on July 20, which highlighted the principal's actions and sparked outrage among local Hindu groups. The report led to widespread protests organized by the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The protests saw a large mob gathering outside the school, demanding accountability and action against the principal.
An FIR was lodged on July 22 by an ABVP member, accusing Sister Vatolly of promoting enmity between religious groups and deliberately hurting religious feelings. The complaint alleges that the principal’s actions caused psychological distress to Hindu students and sowed discord within the community. However, school staff and local authorities have denied these claims, describing them as unfounded.
The school’s senior staff has provided a different account of the events. They claim that the principal's directive was a standard procedure, intended to adhere to the school’s language policy.
They argue that the principal's actions were not meant to insult or disregard the religious sentiments of the students but were rather an enforcement of routine assembly protocols. The staff further contends that the protests and subsequent legal action were fuelled more by political motivations than genuine concerns over religious sensitivity.
Despite the school's defence, the ABVP's protests and the FIR have drawn significant attention. The ABVP's actions, including demonstrations and demands for an apology, have been described by some observers as an attempt to advance a political agenda rather than address an educational issue.
The situation has been exacerbated by videos circulating online, showing ABVP members creating a ruckus outside the school and making derogatory remarks about the principal. These videos have further inflamed the controversy, with calls for the school to conform to specific cultural and religious expectations.
The ABVP has reportedly demanded that the school include daily recitations of the Gita verse as part of its routine, threatening to shut down the institution if their demands are not met.