Radical Group Seeks Removal of Christian Symbols from Missionary Schools in Assam

The ultimatum to remove religious symbols has stirred fear and insecurity in minority-run educational institutions

Team Clarion

GUWAHATI – Christian missionary schools in Assam face escalating threats as a radical group has intensified its campaign against Christian religious symbols on school premises. The group, Sanmilito Sanatan Samaj, has put up posters at educational institutions in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, and Jorhat, demanding the removal of iconography and chapels from them. 

The move has sparked fear and insecurity among the minority-run schools, raising concerns over the integrity of education in the region.

The radical group has allegedly put up anti-Christian posters outside prominent institutions such as Don Bosco School and St Mary’s School in Guwahati, as well as Don Bosco High School Lichubari in Dibrugarh and Carmel School in Jorhat. The group’s campaign extends beyond school boundaries, with posters also appearing in public spaces like Nehru Park and Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati, as well as towns like Barpeta and Sivasagar.

The escalation of tensions follows the passing of a deadline set by the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad, another Hindutva group, demanding the removal of idols of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary from missionary schools and advocating for a secular dress code for teachers and staff. In response to these demands, missionary school heads have sought police protection amid fears of potential violence and disruption to the education environment, especially with the approaching annual exams.

Amidst the turmoil, voices from the Christian community and advocacy groups have expressed concern over the implications of these threats on the educational landscape. Allen Brooks, the spokesperson for the Assam Christian Forum (ACF), emphasised the inclusive nature of missionary schools and their commitment to fostering a peaceful coexistence of different religions and cultures.

The roots of the conflict trace back to an earlier incident where a teacher and principal of a missionary school allegedly abused a student for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in the classroom, prompting the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad to issue warnings against perceived religious favouritism in educational institutions. In a letter addressed to Archbishop John Moolachira, the president of the Kutumba Suraksha Parishad, Satya Ranjan Borah, accused Christian missionary schools of neglecting their constitutional duties by promoting exclusive Christianity within educational settings.

The Christian community in the region has denounced these accusations, asserting their commitment to secular values while maintaining their religious identity. However, the relentless pressure from fundamentalist groups has created a climate of fear and uncertainty among minority-run educational institutions. 

Christian leaders have vowed to explore legal avenues to address these threats and seek intervention from state government to ensure the protection of their rights and freedoms.

The situation underscores broader tensions between religious communities in the region, with Hindutva groups becoming increasingly vocal in their opposition to perceived religious conversions and cultural encroachment by minority groups.

As the poster campaign continues to spread across northeastern states, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, the spectre of communal discord looms large, posing significant challenges to the region’s social fabric and communal harmony.