Hindu pupils face discrimination over prayer strings at school

Allegations of racial intolerance have surfaced at Drakensberg Secondary, in Escort, after two Hindu pupils were asked to remove their red (Luxmi) prayer strings or cover it up during school hours.

The matter has been reported to the South African Hindu Maha Sabha (SAHMS) for investigation.

A pupil, who wished to remain anonymous for the fear of victimisation, claimed that a Muslim teacher had asked those wearing the red strings to remove it while the principal, who is Hindu had asked them to “hide it”.

It has also been alleged that the teacher cut the prayer string from one pupil’s hand after she spoke out.

“As the female pupils line up for inspection, the teacher asks the Hindu’s to remove their strings. In one instance, one of the students spoke up and told the teacher that what she was doing was wrong.

“Later that day, the teacher stopped this pupil and cut the red string off her wrist,” said the pupil.

The pupil claimed that at an assembly last Tuesday, the principal had asked the Hindu pupils to cover their red strings.

“The principal said we should get letters from our respective priests stating that a prayer had been performed and the blessed red string had to be tied on to the wrist and worn at all times,” the pupil added.

She said that Hindu pupils did not complain because they feared victimisation.

“This is religious intolerance and our constitutional rights are being violated,” said the pupil.

“In a recent Facebook post, a concerned community member claimed that a similar incident had taken place last year, when another pupil was asked by the same teacher to remove his/her red string. The parent contacted the school but was offered no explanation about the teacher’s conduct,” added the pupil.

A concerned parent told the POST that her daughter also suffered a similar fate.

“But I told my child not to be afraid of the teacher and to keep her red string on. The day school opened this year, the teacher stopped my daughter as I dropped her off and told her to remove her red string.

“She has been doing this since last year to Hindu pupils. My daughter and I have taken the complaint to the principal but the teacher is saying my daughter is lying,” said the parent.

She said she and other parents met with the principal twice last week to no avail.

“They said our children must get a letter from a to justify them wearing the red string. How outrageous is that?”

Another parent claimed her daughter was so terrified of the teacher, that she cut her string off herself.

“What is most upsetting, is that the principal is a Hindu himself and wears a red string. But he is allowing our children to get harassed,” added the parent.

The SGB and principal of the school have declined to comment saying the matter was under investigation.

Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the SAHMS, confirmed they had received complaints from aggrieved parents.

“We affirm and submit that cultural and religious rights, like the wearing of red strings and nose studs must be respected. As stated above these items are not merely fashion accessories but have deep religious significance. SAHMS will therefore support all Hindus in this regard and is being proactive in bringing this to your attention,” said Trikamjee.

THE POST