DPS North

British Council

Delhi Public School

ABVP

Indian Army

Voices that matter

DPS Bangalore North

Tanveer Sait

DPS

Activists land up at, disrupt Chinese New Year celebration as part of world culturesIn an attempt to inculcate and expose primary grade children to world cultures through aprogramme,(North) had informed all 15 sections of Class 2 students to participate in an ‘art’ activity on ‘New Year Celebrations’ of countries such as China, France, Denmark, USA and Spain.The school had sent out a circular to the parents on August 3 to allow their children to take part in this activity. As part of Chinese New Year celebrations for Class 2 A, B and C sections, students were asked to bring glitter tubes, ice cream sticks and red colour sheets. To add colour to the experience, the school had asked students to get noodles, momos, fried rice, manchurian among other dishes from home, for lunch. The students were also asked to come to school in a traditional Chinese attire.Similarly, Class 2 D, E and F sections were asked to bring croissant, potatoes, French fries, Pizzas and pasta for lunch as part of celebrating French culture. They were also asked to dress in French attire. In the same way, the other sections who were celebrated USA were asked to bring Burgers, hot dogs, Apple Pie, tacos and sandwiches.But what happened on Thursday morning was bizarre. A bunch of right wingactivists barged into the school campus and entered the Principal’s office and asked the management stop this activity, which was supposed to be held on August 11. The mob also told the school that they needed to stop celebrating anything about China, as it was India’s enemy.When BM asked an ABVP activist what was wrong with celebrating Chinese culture, the member said, “It is wrong. How can the school celebrate Chinese New Year inside an educational building? China is threatening our country by joining Pakistan. We should not motivate our children to learn about China. They have also killed many of our soldiers. We should not encourage Chinese culture amongst our youth.”The member also said, “How dare someone issue a circular to parents asking them to come in Chinese attire to school? Is it an ethical thing to do as a school? We have informed the Block Education Officer and the DDPI and urged the officials to make a visit to the school and warn them to stop such practices. The school has finally apologized for taking up this.”Clarifying to BM, Mansoor Ali Khan, member, board of directors, DPS, said, “This is an international project and also a class level activity. How can someone barge inside a school campus and threaten us to stop this? They blocked our school gate and are saying that we are ‘Desh Drohis’. In fact, we have many students whose parents have served in the. We are trying to give students a basic understanding of world cultures. This is no place to practice political vendetta.”“Not just that, on Thursday morning, I got a threatening call from one of the members, asking me to stop the event and not continue with it. Who are these people to dictate terms to me? This is nothing but a project, and this is only informational in nature. These people do not even know international politics. They are just playing politics.”Out of 5,000 students in the school, only 30 were allotted the Chinese theme. Khan said, “This criticism is absurd. This is an intentional act to whip up politicial venom.”While the Block Education Officer, Narayana, was called to the school, he said, “It was just a small project where students had to do this activity. I spoke to the school as well and we told them to put this event off for some time now. It is a few parents who had gone and informed the ABVP and that is why this flare up occurred.”A few hours after the discussion, the school had to cancel the event, which was scheduled for Friday. Mansoor said, “They asked us to apologize in writing which we refused to do. Who is ABVP to come and ask us for an apology? If you want to take it to the courts, I am ready to fight. This was a mere classroom activity. These men even told me that we should conduct programs related to Indian festivals and that they wanted to be a part of it. This is rubbish. However, we have cancelled the event as of now.”This is part of the International School Award (ISA) programme, which recognizes and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools. ISA is a benchmarking scheme that accredits schools as having an outstanding level for support for nurturing global citizenship in young people; and enriching teaching and learning. The topics of the programme are approved in detail six months before the academic year by a team of British Council experts.has seven projects running now. Such elements have nothing to do with this.This is an international project- cum-class activity. How can someone barge inside a school and threaten us to stop this? They blocked our gate and are saying we are ‘Desh Drohis’. Who are these people to interfere with our affairs?