Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Schools Are Meant for Studies, Not for Prayers
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
8 July 2025
Apropos of the news in NAI that a controversy erupted in Rajasthan after a video surfaced on social media, showing Hindu students being made to recite Islamic verses (Kalema) during a morning prayer session.
The incident, which occurred at Bakhshi Springdales School in Kota, has sparked outrage among Hindu outfits, who have warned of massive protests if action was not taken against the management. Amid the uproar, the school director said that for the past 30 years, the institution has followed a "Sarva Dharma Prarthana" tradition, where prayers of all faiths are recited.
The school director said he himself was a retired naval officer and his father also served in the Army and fought three wars. "Education has no religion. We do Sarva Dharma Prarthana while respecting all religions," he said.
When education has no religion, why this Kalema or recitation of Vedic Richa (hymns)? First of all, what's the use of this silly prayer assembly? Why're young students being religiously indoctrinated?
A few years ago, a 14-yr-old (yes, only 14-yr-old) Tamil boy in Sri Lanka raised this question and categorically said NO to any damn Buddhist/Hindu prayers at his school. That evolved child said that a school was meant for studies, not for prayers. Very correct. You go to school to study, not to pray.
But here in India, this stupid practice of hidden indoctrination and even conversion has been going on for decades. No one questions. The discerning readers of NAI may be aware that a middle of mine appeared on the site of NAI a few years ago, when I wasn't regularly writing for it. That middle appeared in The Tribune, Chandigarh in which I described how the Shia School Management in Iran promptly exempted me from any religious participation at my school where barring yours truly, all were Muslims. The Shia headmaster knew that I had no faith and both my parents were godless and faithless. He respected a child's no belief and never imposed any faith-related rules on me. That the Iran of my childhood has become as fanatic as any Sunni Muslim country is inconsequential.
Prayer is a private affair. So is a religion. I've no problem if one prays or believes in a deity or a 'sacred' book. My point is: Why should schools and colleges be catalysts for faiths and faith-related mumbo-jumbo?
Recite a Kalema or Shahada or Hanuman Chalisa; but only at home, not in public or even at a school or college. Stop conducting prayer assemblies at all schools. Respect all faiths but don't go overboard. Let children grow up naturally. Don't make them fearful of any imaginary god. We've already vitiated the minds of the kids. Don't vitiate further. Every infant is an atheist. But soon, parents, society, school and other agencies make him/her a theist. This is criminal. Let children grow up as good and noble humans’ sans any religion, god and even prayers. When will humans learn to call themselves just humans?
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/schools-studies-prayers/d/136111
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