Muslim teacher suspended for playing Azaan despite school's decision to educate about different prayers

Mumbai: A Muslim teacher at Mumbai's Kapol Vidyanidhi International School in Kandivali has been suspended after the school management placed the blame on him for playing the Azaan, which was played as part of the school's decision to introduce prayers from different religions.

Coming under pressure from some parents, who were instigated by the local BJP leaders, the school disassociated with the Azan playing, putting all responsibility on the teacher, and suspended her, despite the school principal's explanation that the incident was misinterpreted.

The teacher allegedly played the Azaan, an Islamic call to prayer, during the morning assembly, leading to protests and a political row.

A video purportedly capturing the incident went viral on social media, showing the Azan being played on loudspeakers during the assembly session at the school located in Mahavir Nagar. The unexpected inclusion of the Azaan during the morning prayer unsettled some parents, who quickly gathered at the school in response to the video.

Dr Reshma Hegde, the school principal, explained that the intention behind playing prayers from different religions was to educate students about diverse religious practices. She stated, "This is a misrepresentation of our attempt."

However, parents expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming they had not been informed about such an initiative. Some parents argued that they chose the school for their children because it is predominantly Hindu, and they believed there was no need to include an Islamic prayer.

The controversy escalated, drawing political attention. Local BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar led the parents' protest, demanding the teacher's suspension. "A teacher belonging to the minority community deciding to play the Azaan from her phone into the loudspeaker during the morning assembly of Friday is not just a mistake," Sagar asserted, emphasizing the need to protect the values of the majority community.

Sanjay Sawant, a leader from the Shiv Sena, lodged a complaint with the police, accusing the school of attempting to convert students and inciting sentiments among parents.

Responding to the mounting pressure, the school took immediate action. The suspended teacher is now under investigation, and the school administration assured the parents that a similar incident would not occur in the future. Dr Hegde reaffirmed that the school's prayers predominantly consist of the Gayatri Mantra and Saraswati Vandana, reflecting the Hindu ethos of the institution.

The controversy at Kapol Vidyanidhi International School has raised questions about the inclusion of religious practices in educational institutions and the necessity for transparent communication between schools and parents regarding such initiatives.