Shimla school cancels pre-Eid celebration following Dev Bhoomi Sangarsh Samiti threat of protest

A well-known, private, English-medium school in Shimla canceled its circular which had instructed students of primary classes to wear kurta-pyjama and a small cap, and take sevaiyan, paneer, and dry fruits on March 28 to celebrate pre-Eid, following a threat of protest from a right-wing group, Dev Bhoomi Sangarsh Samiti.

The right-wing group claimed the school's decision was intended to instill communal discord and threatened legal action if the decision was not reversed. The school defended its decision as a cultural learning experience, stating that it was a priority for the protection of children and did not involve religious rites.

Since the social media posts uploaded by the right-wing group stated that the school action was with the view to instilling communal discord, state education minister Rohit Thakur reacted by stating that the matter was being unnecessarily raised to disrupt communal harmony. Dev Bhoomi Sangarsh Samiti threatened to organize a protest in front of the school and legal action if the school did not reverse its decision, which it alleged was designed to propagate Islam.

Other individuals also questioned on social media the intention of the school.

The school, in retracting its decision, explained that the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration to be held for students from nursery to Class II was a part of their initiative to enable young students to enjoy India's cultural diversity—just as they celebrate Holi, Diwali, and Christmas. Describing the protection of children as the school's foremost priority, the school, in a communication to parents, had indicated: "It was planned solely as a cultural learning experience, with no religious rites, and enforcement and voluntary participation."