A school play performed during Independence Day celebrations at a municipal school in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, has sparked controversy after accusations that burqa-clad women were depicted as terrorists.
The programme took place at Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Prathmik Shala Number 51 in the city’s Kumbharwada area on August 15.
Following the uproar, District Education Officer (DEO) Hitendrasinh D Padheriya has issued a notice to the Bhavnagar Municipal School Board Administrative Officer (AO) Munjal Badmaliya, seeking a detailed report within seven days.
The action was prompted by a representation from local group Bandharan Bachav Samiti Bhavnagar, which claimed the play “depicted the Muslim community as terrorists” and demanded strict measures against the teachers responsible. The organisation said the act was an attempt to “hurt religious sentiments and spread unrest in the public.”
Confirming the notice, DEO Padheriya said, “The representation, marked to the District Collector, Municipal Commissioner and DEO on Monday, stated that there was a deliberate depiction of Muslims as terrorists during the cultural programme held at the school on August 15. To find out facts and details, I have sought an explanation from the Administrative Officer within seven days.”
Videos of the event, staged at the all-girls school with over 600 students, have been widely circulated on social media, adding to the controversy.
In its complaint, Bandharan Bachav Samiti alleged that students dressed in burqas were shown as terrorists during a play featuring Kashmiri pilgrims, the Army, and militants. “In this play, girls dressed in Muslim attire (burqa) were shown as terrorists, clearly depicting the Muslim community as terrorists,” the Samiti said in its representation.
Jehurbhai Hussainbhai Jeja, the organisation’s president, told The Indian Express, “The Muslim community demands that all those school staff behind this act should be suspended and strict legal action should be taken so that no such unconstitutional act is committed in the future.”
However, AO Munjal Badmaliya maintained that there was no deliberate intent. “The cultural programmes are held every year on January 26 and August 15. This year, it was themed on Operation Sindoor and the bravery of our defence forces, and programmes were held in every school. Nothing was intentional or deliberate. We will submit our response to the notice,” he said.
Bhavnagar city has 68 municipal schools with over 30,000 enrolled students. As part of this year’s Operation Sindoor celebrations, schoolchildren also sent rakhis and letters to soldiers from Gujarat. From Bhavnagar district alone, more than two lakh students participated in the initiative.