LUCKNOW, India: A video of a seven-year-old Muslim student being slapped by his classmates on the instruction of their Hindu teacher has caused outrage and highlighted the daily struggle of Muslim minority in the world’s most populous country, India.
The incident occurred on Thursday in a private school in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) province, where Muslims have seen a surge in violence in recent years.
The incident that unfolded via a cellphone recording, teacher Trapta Tyagi made inflammatory remarks about Muslim mothers’ involvement in their children’s education. The video captured Tyagi encouraging the classmates of a young Muslim boy to take turns slapping him. The disturbing footage quickly circulated on social media, prompting widespread condemnation and an official investigation by the police in Muzaffarnagar, the city where the school is situated.
A Hindu school teacher in UP, India, asking Hindu kids in the class to hit a Muslim kid because he is Muslim! Islamophobia in India has crossed all boundaries. https://t.co/HET3utip7P
— Ashok (@ashoswai) August 25, 2023
In the video, Tyagi’s voice is heard urging the students to intensify the slapping, at one point even instructing them to “hit him harder.” This shocking incident left a significant impact on the young boy, evident from his tearful and fearful expression throughout the ordeal. The video also captured the disturbing sound of laughter from another person, heightening the distressing nature of the event.
The incident has ignited a furor on social media platforms, with many expressing their outrage over the teacher’s behaviour. One senior police official, as quoted by the Indian Express, described the incident as Tyagi “declaring” that Muslim students’ academic performance suffers due to their mothers’ lack of involvement in their studies.
Political figures, including Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the opposition Congress party, connected the incident to broader societal issues. Gandhi attributed the incident to the divisive narratives propagated by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He articulated his concerns about the spread of discrimination and hatred among innocent children, turning schools into arenas of animosity rather than learning.
India’s National Commission for Protection of Child Rights swiftly responded to the incident, expressing its intent to take legal action. However, reports from Indian news media indicate that the boy’s father has chosen not to file a formal complaint with the police. The father, instead, withdrew his son from the school, and the institution agreed to refund the admission fee. Law enforcement officials are endeavouring to persuade the father to file an official complaint against Tyagi, who also happens to be the school’s owner.
This unfortunate incident highlights the deep-seated challenges of discrimination and intolerance that persist in parts of Indian society. The incident’s video resonated deeply with the boy’s family, who initially dismissed the matter as routine discipline. However, upon viewing the footage, they were appalled by the severity of the incident.
The incident has drawn attention to the precarious state of minority communities in India, particularly since the BJP gained power in 2014. Reports of violence against religious and ethnic minorities have surged in recent years, with Muslims often targeted by extremist groups. The situation remains particularly tense in regions like Uttar Pradesh, led by Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu monk who holds a prominent position within the BJP. The state government’s use of advertisements with divisive undertones further underscores the urgency of addressing communal tensions.
