SARTORIAL SKIRMISH

Following a clutch of petitions, the Court has said that there can be no comparison between the kirpan and turban of Sikhs and the hijab of Muslim women as the former was allowed under the Constitution

- Banshika Garg

INDIA is a land of many religions, cultures and traditions. Unity in diversity has always been recognised as its greatest strength. However, with the ongoing hijab row, we seem to have forgotten what once reigned supreme in our country-multiculturalism.

The debate over wearing the hijab (headscarf) in educational institutions, which caused a furore in Karnataka earlier this year, has brought the focus back on the scope and ambit of religious freedom guaranteed under the Constitution. The issue is currently being considered by the top court, with many petitioners urging it to permit them to wear hijabs inside educational institutions.

The controversy began in Karnataka's Udupi district with several Muslim students staging a protest against the college authorities for not allowing them to attend classes wearing hijabs on the ground that it was a violation of the uniform policy of the college. Hijab is a headscarf worn by Muslim women to cover their head, neck and chest in order to protect their modesty and privacy.

Within a few days, the controversy spread to other schools and colleges across the state, with a large group of Hindu students staging a counter protest by sporting saffron scarves in their educational institutes.

The state government intervened by passing an order in furtherance of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983. The order stated that all government school students must wear the uniform decided by the state government, while students of private schools must do so as stipulated by the school management. The order further stated that if there was no such dress code, students can wear a dress that will not affect equality, integrity and law and order.