Controversy Erupts Over Religious Homework Assigned to Hindu Student in Hyderabad School

A recent incident in Hyderabad has sparked outrage after a private school assigned a Hindu student the task of memorizing Islamic prayers. This has raised serious questions about the role of education in imparting knowledge versus imposing religious beliefs. Parents have expressed their concerns, leading to protests and the dismissal of the teacher involved. The situation has ignited a broader debate about the appropriateness of religious content in school curricula and the rights of students from diverse backgrounds. As the community grapples with these issues, the incident highlights the need for educational institutions to respect the beliefs of all students.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 17, 2026, 12:01 IST

Religious Homework Sparks Outrage

In a shocking incident in Pahalgam, innocent Hindu tourists lost their lives simply because they could not recite the Kalma. This tragic event sent shockwaves across the nation, raising questions about the extremist mindset that tests one's faith at the cost of life. Recently, a similar incident in Hyderabad has ignited a new and serious debate. A private school assigned a second-grade Hindu student the task of memorizing the Kalma and Surah Fatiha as homework. This raises concerns about the mentality behind incorporating religious lessons into the innocent education of children. Are schools becoming centers for education or tools for imposing specific religious ideologies on young minds?

The controversy erupted at 'Success The School' located in Saidabad, Hyderabad, when the parents of a second-grade Hindu student alleged that their child was given homework to memorize Islamic prayers, specifically the Kalma and Surah Fatiha. The parents expressed their shock upon reviewing their child's notebook, claiming this was not the first instance of such religious assignments being given to their child.

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The parents immediately sought clarification from the school administration, questioning why a child from a different faith was instructed to memorize prayers from a specific religion. They argued that the purpose of education should be to impart knowledge, not to impose religious content contrary to a child's or their family's beliefs. Following the emergence of this issue, protests began outside the school premises, and the situation quickly took on a political dimension.

In response to the escalating controversy, the school management terminated the employment of the teacher, Sheikh Ayesha Parveen. The termination letter dated July 15 not only ended her services immediately but also declared her permanently ineligible for employment at any institution under the Success Group of Educational Institutions. However, apart from this action, the school management did not issue any detailed public statement.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala claimed that the teacher's removal occurred after their intervention. Meanwhile, BJP activists protested outside the school, during which police detained several activists, including BJP leader and lawyer Karuna Sagar. Sagar raised concerns about the seriousness of the situation, questioning why an FIR had not yet been filed. He also demanded a fair investigation into the allegations of imposing religious content on students and accountability for those responsible.

Later, the student's parents wrote to the school management, stating that they accepted the action taken against the teacher and the apology offered. The family expressed hope that the school would prevent such incidents from recurring in the future and would cooperate fully.

This entire episode raises several uncomfortable questions. The most pressing inquiry is whether any teacher has the right to assign homework involving religious texts to innocent children of another faith. Would the response from society and authorities be the same if a teacher from a Hindu, Sikh, or Christian background compelled a Muslim student to memorize prayers from their religion? The goal of education should be to foster scientific thinking, moral values, and constitutional awareness, rather than experimenting with a child's religious identity.

This incident cannot be viewed as isolated to just one school or teacher. If the allegations are true, it undermines the trust parents place in educational institutions when sending their children to school. Educational institutions across the country must ensure that no child, whether Hindu, Muslim, or from any other faith, is subjected to religious teachings or practices against their will or their family's beliefs. Ultimately, should classrooms be places for books or arenas for testing religious identities? This is a question that both society and the education system must address.