The Muslims in Manipur are angry over the picture of Prophet Mohammad published in a school textbook. The picture has been published in a general knowledge book called 'Prime General Knowledge', meant for students of Nursery and Kindergarten. While the publisher of the book, Students Store, in Pauna Bazaar has already apologised for the mistake, the Muslim community is planning a series of agitation in the state till the book is recalled.

The photograph of the Prophet has been published in a chapter dealing with various religions and has been printed alongside pictures of Krishna and Jesus Christ under the heading 'Religious deities'.

The textbook is a private publication and is not in the course prescribed by the government. Educationists point out that using the book is optional and has so far been used by only private schools.

The proprietor of the publishing house is Nishikanta Sapam who is also the owner of The Sangai Express  Manipur's largest selling newspaper. The book has been written by S Badyla Jassal who is now a teacher in Assam Valley School in Guwahati. Despite several attempts, he could not be reached for his response.

Executive member of the Pangal Students Union  one of the main Muslim bodies which has already started an agitation  Hayatur Rehman told The Indian Express, "We have initiated a drive to collect these textbooks. We have already burnt a batch of these books in Hatta in Imphal. We have collected as many as 200 books today. How could such a picture be published in a book when the image of the Prophet is clearly forbidden in Islam. The agitation will continue and we will decide what to do next after consulting the entire Muslim community." The principal of Mehmood English Private School in Lilong, Mohammad Anwaruddin, told The Indian Express that the book came to light only this academic year. "My school doesn't have these books though. How could they have even found an image of the Prophet when there is no such image,'' he said.

Sapam said he has already apologised for the mistake and has recalled the book. "But this issue has been completely blown out of proportion. This book was written a good four five years ago and has been published since 2009. It is not in the government syllabus and therefore only schools who have wanted to use the book have been doing so."

President of the Popular Front of India, Manipur, Mufti Arshad Hussain said the books were not available in Muslim schools till this year. "It was only in January this year that we came to know of this through some parents whose children had received the book. The book has been around for over two years but it had not come to our notice. They were being used in non-Muslim schools. This year many of our children have started going to these non-Muslim schools. Also some Muslim schools received the books. We acted on the complaint of the parents,'' he said.

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