A classroom activity on China at a private school in Bengaluru North, scheduled for Friday as part of efforts to teach students the cultures of various countries, has been cancelled following opposition from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
It all started when some students of Delhi Public School, Bengaluru North, received a circular stating there would be an activity on ‘New Year Celebrations of China’. The students were asked to bring stationery and come dressed in traditional Chinese attire. They were also asked to bring one Chinese cuisine.
Soon enough, the circular was posted on messaging platforms and, subsequently, ABVP members went to the school and staged a protest on Thursday. They demanded that the circular be withdrawn in light of the volatile situation between India and China. A team of police officers and the Block Education Officer had to rush to the spot as the situation grew tense.
Jayaprakash T.S., organising secretary of ABVP, said: “China is our enemy and is causing so many problems to our nation, affecting our internal security. How can such a programme be conducted?”
The activity was part of the British Council’s International Schools Award (ISA) programme, which aims to make students “learn various traditions and rituals that each country practises during its New Year celebrations”. Students of classes one and two were part of the project and were to have a classroom activity to learn about the New Year celebrations of India and five other countries (Denmark, France, Spain, China and the United States).
A press release issued by school principal Manju Balasubramanyam said: “We would like to state that the school takes immense pride in being a proud representative and ambassador of Indian values, traditions and culture in the world.”
When contacted, British Council said in an email response: “The plan of DPS was to have Chinese New Year as part of [ISA]. Local groups protested this decision and the school decided to cancel it.” The British Council also added it had no involvement in the matter.
Meanwhile, Mansoor Ali Khan, member, board of management, DPS Group of Schools, said it was “unfortunate” that an educational and cultural exchange programme had to be called off. “It is a scary situation if political parties get involved in the activities of the school and politicise them. This sends a wrong message to young and impressionable minds,” he said.
He added that the issue was politicised by ABVP and BJP members because of his political affiliation. Mr. Khan is secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.