At a school in Kochi, Kerala, a student was denied entry for wearing a hijab, causing a rift between Christian and Islamic communities. The school's stance is that the dress code is uniform for all, while the student's family accuses the administration of deliberately targeting another religion. Once recognized for its educational excellence and natural beauty, Kerala is now witnessing religious discord.
Is this Dispute Merely About Dress Code, or Does it Reveal a Deeper Ideological Divide?
A private school assisted by the Latin Catholic Church in Kochi has come under scrutiny. On October 10, an 8th-grade student was denied entry due to her hijab. Soon after, her family and community gathered to protest against the school. The administration declared a two-day holiday to calm the situation. This incident is not isolated; the gap between Christian and Muslim communities in Kerala is widening.
What the School Administration Says
According to media reports, the principal initially asked the student gently to remove the hijab. She complied then, but returned the next day in a hijab. This time, the entry was denied until the hijab was removed. The issue soon involved her parents and many community members.
Source: aajtak
Following this, the school released an official statement accusing the child's parents of being swayed by political provocation. They are reportedly linked to the Social Democratic Party of India, supported by the banned Popular Front of India. The school alleges they are mistreating nuns working there. Questions are also raised about why a student who complied with the dress code suddenly started wearing a hijab. However, there is information at the time of writing that the family has agreed to adhere to the dress code.
This issue is not limited to one school or region. The entire state is experiencing clashes between the Christian and Muslim communities.
Population Dynamics
In Kerala, over 50% of the population is Hindu, followed by Muslims at approximately 27%, and Christians account for just over 18%. This data is from the last census in 2011. However, even then, there were murmurs about the religious population distribution. The Muslim community is growing rapidly compared to Hindus and Christians.
To show the contrast, from 2001 to 2011 the general population increased by 2.2%, while the Muslim population grew by approximately 13%. Simply put, the fertility rate in Muslim families is emphasized more than in others.
Fertility Rates Aren't the Only Reason for Population Changes
Over the past two decades, migration has played a role. Christians and Hindus have been migrating to other countries, while Muslims, though migrating temporarily for work in Gulf countries, usually return.
Because they remain in significant numbers, their social and political influence has increased, causing some unrest among the Christian community. The influx from Gulf economies has financially empowered the Muslim community, leading to some Christian businesses feeling left behind.
Source: aajtak
Conversion Allegations
A few years ago, an intelligence report suggested that individuals from both communities are converting to Islam. According to a Times of India report, over 75% of those converting are women under 35. This has notably agitated the Christian community.
In the meantime, the narrative around alleged 'Love Jihad' gained traction, with Christian organizations claiming Muslim youth are influencing Christian girls to convert, further straining relationships.
Rising Radicalism
Groups have formed on both sides highlighting issues through extreme narratives. Some Christian groups have adopted aggressive standpoints on Love Jihad and more. Politicians in Kerala have also taken a stand, promoting unity between Hindus and Christians against perceived Muslim radicalism.
The politically and economically entrenched Muslim community responded actively, criticizing both communities and coining the term 'Chrisangi'—a fusion of Christian and Sanghi, making a radical statement. Numerous social media groups further fuel this division.
Why Hindus Seem Unaffected Despite Being the Majority
Though Hindus are the majority, they appear less concerned about the purported demographic shift compared to Christians due to several reasons. The Hindu community is internally diverse, lacking a unified stance on population changes, unlike the direct competition between Christians and Muslims.
