In the lead-up to the upcoming Indian elections, accusations against a Catholic school by Hindu nationalists are becoming increasingly common.
The recent controversy centers around St. Gerosa English School, managed by the Sisters of Maria Bambina in Mangalore, Karnataka.
Sister Prabha, a nun at the school, was compelled to be suspended due to a social media campaign orchestrated by local politicians from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The allegations claim that Sister Prabha made derogatory remarks about Hindus in her class and criticized the newly inaugurated Ayodhya temple, a focal point of the longstanding conflict between Hindus and Muslims.
Nationalist politicians staged a hostile protest, urging students to chant “Jai Shri Ram,” the nationalist slogan associated with Lord Ram.
An inspection by the Department of Education followed, accompanied by threats from a state legislative assembly member.
The matter is now under investigation by local police, and the Diocese of Mangalore has called for a thorough examination, revealing that the accusations may be part of a specific agenda.
Upon closer scrutiny, it appears that the English teacher, in her 7th-grade class, was merely presenting a poem by the renowned Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, a part of the Karnataka school curriculum.
The verse in question did not contain offensive remarks about Hinduism, as claimed on social media.
In response to the situation, the Diocese of Mangalore has urged the Department of Minorities, the Department of Child Welfare, and the Commission for Women to conduct a fair investigation while safeguarding the dignity of Sister Prabha.
The Diocese also called for the protection of the interests of minorities, women, and children.
As a precautionary measure to calm the situation, St Gerosa English School suspended the teacher. In a statement, the school, with a 60-year history, emphasized its commitment to upholding constitutional values and treating all faiths and communities with equality.
Despite the temporary mistrust resulting from the incident, the school remains optimistic that decisive measures, coupled with parental cooperation, will contribute to rebuilding trust and fostering a brighter future for all students.
This article has been edited to align with the writing style of LiCAS.news.
