June 10, 2013: Baramulla/Kashmir/India - It is learnt that the turbaned Sikh students have been attending classes for the last fortnight following their earlier exclusion for wearing their turban at the St Joseph’s Higher Secondary School in Baramulla, 50 km from the State Capital, Srinagar.
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| Sikh students at St Joseph’s school who were excluded from class for wearing their turban. |
From 16th May, the 107 year old school, which has 300 Sikh students, had excluded turbaned Sikh students from classes saying that the turban is against the school’s uniform code.
Following a letter writing campaign by United Sikhs to the school and State authorities, the school principal called a meeting with parents of the affected students and the Sikh community representatives, on 25th May, when he announced that the students may return to school wearing their turbans.
On 21st May, on behalf of some parents and the Baramulla Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, United Sikhs had written to the school principal, Fr Sebastian Nagathunkal and to Rt. Rev. Peter Celestine, the Bishop of the Diocese of Jammu-Srinagar that runs the school, asking them to uphold the Sikh students’ religious right to wear their turban.
“We also wrote to the Education Minister of Jammu and Kashmir asking him to intervene. These letters were copied to the Cardinal of the Indian Catholic Church of India, the National Human Right Commission and the National Commission for Minorities,” said Mejindarpal Kaur, United Sikhs International Legal Director.
“We congratulate the brave stand taken by the Sikh students of St Joseph’s school, to project the principles of Sikhism by wearing their turban to school, even though, this meant their exclusion from classes. United Sikhs thanks the school principal for now coming around to understanding the need to promote unity through religious diversity, said Gurpreet Singh, United Sikhs Director
“After how things turned out, I feel proud to wear a turban. I would like to give a message: Sabat Soorat Dastaar Sira (Let your total awareness be the turban on your head),” said one of the students who was excluded from class for wearing a turban, whose name has been withheld at his parent’s request.
“United Sikhs is very grateful to all parties who helped resolve this issue expeditiously. We are very pleased that this incident has opened the way for students to wear a turban at the St Joseph’s school in Baramulla, where historically the wearing of the Sikh turban was a rare occurance,” she added.
“With the grace of god, about 25 students wore the turban to school (on 28th May 2013). This is a positive sign,” said Dr Tara Singh, member of the Baramulla Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who met the school principal with some parents, after the issue was raised by United Sikhs.