Fears grow over the government’s repeated efforts to target Muslim names and heritage under the Hindutva agenda
NEW DELHI/AJMER – The decades-old Government Moiniya Islamia School in Ajmer, Rajasthan, has found itself at the centre of a fresh political and communal storm after a BJP councillor demanded its name be changed to ‘Shri Jyotiba Phule School’.
The school, which dates back to the pre-independence era and has long served the Urdu-speaking Muslim population of Ajmer, is now facing a threat to its identity. The demand to rename it came during a School Development and Management Committee (SDMC) meeting where Balesh Mohil and Bharti Srivastava, a BJP councillor from Ward 16, jointly proposed the new name.
The school principal, rather than refusing the demand, reportedly forwarded the proposal to the Ajmer District Education Officer (DEO) and Director of Secondary Education in Bikaner. The move sparked immediate outrage across the city, particularly among Muslims and opposition leaders.
“This is not just about a name. It’s a deliberate attempt to erase the identity and history of Muslims in Rajasthan,” said SM Akbar, General Secretary of the Minority Department of the Rajasthan Congress Committee.
Speaking strongly against the proposal, Akbar added, “The name ‘Moiniya Islamia’ is a symbol of our culture and heritage. It was established even before India’s independence. Any such attempt to tamper with this legacy is politically motivated and unacceptable.”
He further warned the district administration of serious consequences. “If the name is changed under pressure, we will challenge it in court. The responsibility will lie with the DEO and the district administration,” he said.
Akbar suggested that instead of renaming existing institutions, new schools should be constructed to honour social reformers like Jyotiba Phule. “We have utmost respect for Shri Jyotiba Phule. If the BJP really wants to honour him, they should build a new school in his name rather than trying to erase the name of an existing Urdu school.”
The controversy comes against the backdrop of a wider campaign by the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government to replace names associated with Muslim culture and language with Hindu-centric ones. Several Urdu-medium institutions across Rajasthan have reportedly been targeted, with efforts being made to shift them into Hindi-medium schools and rename them accordingly.
Locals in Ajmer have expressed deep concern over the issue. “This is not about education anymore, this is about identity. First, they removed Urdu signs, now they want to remove Muslim names from schools. What next?” asked Mohammad Sajid, a resident of the locality near the school.
Another resident, 72-year-old retired teacher Abdul Rahman, said, “The school has educated generations of Muslim children. Changing its name is like erasing our collective memory.”
The school, named after the Moiniya sect of Islam, has long served as a cornerstone of the Muslim community in the city. While it also serves students from various backgrounds, the symbolic importance of its name is deeply rooted in Ajmer’s cultural fabric.
Sources within the education department have hinted that the matter has now reached the state-level authorities, and a decision will be taken after consultations. However, many fear that the BJP government may push the change to appease its right-wing base.
Bharti Srivastava, the councillor who initiated the proposal, has so far not issued a public statement.
Political observers believe this move fits into a broader pattern of renaming places and institutions in BJP-ruled states to align with the Hindutva ideology. Critics have accused the BJP of attempting to rewrite history by removing Muslim names and heritage from public spaces.
“This is not isolated,” said political analyst Amir Hasan. “From roads to railway stations, there’s a growing tendency in BJP states to replace anything that sounds Muslim. The renaming of the Mughal Sarai station, Allahabad to Prayagraj, and now this—it’s part of the same ideology.”
Local Congress leaders have threatened to launch a statewide agitation if the government proceeds with the renaming. “This is not just a Muslim issue, it’s an Indian issue. The BJP is dividing our society by targeting our shared history,” said Ajmer Congress leader Iqbal Khan.
Meanwhile, teachers and parents at the school are worried about the atmosphere of fear and insecurity. “Instead of focusing on the quality of education and infrastructure, the government is busy changing names. Is this how they plan to improve schools?” questioned one teacher requesting anonymity.
The Rajasthan education department has not issued an official comment so far. However, insiders suggest that pressure from both sides is mounting.
As protests build up and political tensions rise, the fate of the school’s name remains uncertain. For many in Ajmer, the controversy is not just about one institution, but about the larger pattern of erasing Muslim presence from public memory.
