Muslim Students Federation (MSF) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) students detained the Nirmala College Principal in his office for hours for allegedly not allowing Namaz in the college classroom. What role atheist communist SFI students have in this controversy remains unknown. Experts called the traversity The Journey of Kerala to Al Kerala!

Nirmala College is one of the prominent colleges with autonomous status in Kerala—the decades-old college that functions under the diocese of Kothamangalam. Nirmala College is an arts and science college in Muvattupuzha, in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, run by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

A group of young jihadists demanded that Muslim students studying in the college should be allowed a designated space for Namaz in front of the college.

Interestingly, there is no obstacle for Muslim students to pray on Fridays in several mosques near the college. This request has sparked controversy, especially considering that a mosque is located just 300 meters away from the college.

Recently, four female Muslim students performed Namaz in the classroom. Teachers opposed their divisive behaviour. Later, male students came forward with the strike and staged a sit-in at the principal’s office of the Christian-owned college.

The college hostel is located near the college. College authorities made it clear that there is no obstacle for the students to go there and pray. However, some students claimed it was insufficient and demanded a special prayer place in the college.

Girls are not allowed inside the college hostel, and Islamists demanded that the college management should arrange a place for them to pray.

There is criticism that some Islamist extremists are injecting religious fundamentalism into the students. Such dangerous trends are growing all over Kerala. Are they trying to replicate the hijab ban that turned violent in Karnataka after Islamist terrorists hijacked it?

Non-Muslims fear that once Namaz is allowed in one college, the demand for a particular place and mosque for praying in all other educational institutions will arise. A prayer area within the college premises raises concerns about discrimination against students of different faiths.

Catholic Congress Global Committee came out with a circular. They alleged that a group of students tried to destroy the peaceful atmosphere existing at Nirmala College. They condemned the mainstream political outfits that supported the forceful students and alleged sectarianism. MSF is the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a Congress ally.

When mosques do not allow women for their Friday prayers, why should non-Muslim management arrange such facilities for Muslim girls? Ideally, Muslim religious leaders should work with mosques to conduct prayers for Muslim girls.

Hindu activist Pratheesh Vishwanath had this to say.

Educational institutions like schools and colleges are places of learning, not religious establishments. They should remain secular spaces, free from spiritual practices. Knowledge transcends religion and caste, and granting special privileges to one religious group undermines the secular nature of educational institutions in a secular country like Bharat.

It is unconstitutional for a college management to provide facilities catering to one religion exclusively. If prayer facilities are provided for one religious group, similar facilities would have to be offered to students of other faiths, as Bharat upholds the principle of secularism. Furthermore, if prayer is to be accommodated within the college, it is essential to understand the content of these prayers.

The verse of Al-Fatihah, recited during the five daily prayers, makes references that could be seen as divisive. This interpretation implies that Muslims, while praying, are reiterating that Christians and Jews have deviated from the proper path. Given that these prayers are repeated multiple times daily, this could foster sentiments of division among students of different faiths.

The question now arises: Are our educational institutions meant to be centres of learning or breeding grounds for religious and ideological divisions? Whose doctrine promotes such sectarianism and extremism?

The jihadis freed the college principal after he promised to consult with the college management and update them on Monday.

Islamist extremists are trying to divert the issue by claiming Muslim students protested against poor, unsanitary management of toilets at Nirmala College.

Hindus pointed out that if colleges permit spaces for Namaz, such places should also be provided for Hindus and Christians.

Newman College, Thodupuzha (where Malayalam Professor TJ Joseph taught), having his limbs chopped by Islamist extremists alleging blasphemy, lies just 20 km east of Nirmala College. Incidentally, the attack occurred at Muvattupuzha, Joseph’s hometown. While Newman College, another Christian management college, abandoned the professor, the authorities hounded him. He now lives a solitary life.