ABVP Protests at Catholic School in Madhya Pradesh Over Damaged Copy of Ramayana

Maharajpur, Madhya Pradesh, April 5, 2025: Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a protest outside Amal Jyoti School in Maharajpur on April 2, demanding an official apology from the school administration over the discovery of a damaged copy of the Ramayana in the school library. The issue came to light during an inspection of the school conducted by the State Child Rights Protection Commission.

The protest began in the morning and continued for over an hour, during which demonstrators surrounded the school premises, raised slogans, and demanded immediate action from the district administration. Police were deployed to maintain law and order, and the demonstration remained peaceful.

Protesters accused the school—managed by the Sisters of Nirmal Jyoti Province, a Catholic congregation under the Mother of Mount Carmel—of religious bias, unnesscary fee collection, and suspected conversion activities. They also alleged that Hindu religious texts were being neglected in the school library, which reportedly featured a disproportionately high number of books related to Christianity.

ABVP members further accused the school of attempting to influence tribal and Baiga students through subtle religious messaging embedded in school activities. They also raised concerns about alleged misconduct by certain teachers toward minor girls; however, they admitted they had no concrete evidence to support these claims at present.

In response to the protests, the Sr. Neena, the Vice-Principal of the school issued an apology for the condition of the Ramayana and stated that new copies of the book, along with other Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, have been ordered. She also promised to conduct an internal inquiry to determine how the damage to the Ramayana occurred and to hold responsible parties accountable.

Members of the ABVP submitted a memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Mandla district, calling for the revocation of the school’s recognition, reimbursement of allegedly unauthorized fees, and a formal investigation into conversion-related activities.

They also submitted a separate petition filed under the banner of the “Sign for India School Scam” to the District Collector, echoing similar concerns about religious influence on tribal children in the region.

ABVP reiterated its call for religious neutrality in educational institutions, especially in areas with vulnerable tribal populations. The protest concluded peacefully following the submission of the memorandum.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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