By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Farhana Parveen was very happy that she had been selected in the entrance examination of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas this year. She and her parents were very happy at the fact that she cracked the entrance examination which is prestigious and is considered very tough. But they did not know that soon their dreams were going to go awry, and the system would not allow her to realize her dreams. Happily she took the admission and admitted herself in the hostel only to find out that the people surrounding her are hostile because she was a Muslim.
Started in 1995, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya are school system designed for talented children from the rural areas. The school system provides good quality modern education of all socio-economic background.
She had to leave the school as she had been isolated by the school authorities only on account of her religion. Some teachers and classmates kept telling her how a Muslim girl could stay there alone. The information has sent a wave of concern among Muslims and they have demanded the administration to take action against school authorities and other culprits so that a Muslim girl’s future would not be spoiled.
According to the information available in Akhbar-e-Mashriq, an Urdu daily published from Kolakata, the student of Urdu Girls’ Middle School situated in Haldi Pokhar locality of the district, Farhana Parveen, competed in national level entrance test for admission to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas this year and she was admitted to Chakolia unit of the school in eastern Singhbhoomi (Jamshedpur).
Her family members were very much happy over her admission. Mohammad Sajjad, her father who runs a pan shop, had eagerly admitted his daughter in class VI. According to the family members of Farhana Parveen she felt isolation in the school and its hostel because she was the only Muslim girl there whereas other students kept away from her, calling her a ‘Pathan’. Farhana stayed there for a fortnight and now does not want to go back. Presently, she is at her home in Pokhar and completely disturbed and concerned over her bleak future. Some political organization have taken up the case and presented the case before the administration.
TwoCircles.net contacted the school authorities but they were not ready to give any comment. They clearly denied any allegation like this. “We have no information and can not tell you anything in this regard. If she had any problem she must consult her house master or the principal”, maintained one of the official, giving clarification on this issue, while talking to TwoCircles.net.
Link:
http://www.navodaya.nic.in/