Indore School Under Fire for Allegedly Holding Separate Annual Functions for Hindu and Muslim Students After Classroom Segregation Claims

A controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore after a prominent private school allegedly organised separate annual functions for Hindu and Muslim students and was accused of segregating children in classrooms on the basis of religion.

The school, International School of Bombay, located in the Muslim-dominated Khajrana area of Indore, is affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education and managed by Satyawati Argal Education Society. Established in 2019, the co-educational institution has nearly 70 percent Muslim students, according to local residents.

The issue came to light after the school held two separate annual day events on February 2 and February 3. Muslim parents claimed they were not informed in advance that the celebrations had been split along religious lines.

Mir Gulrez Ali, whose son studies in Class 10, said, “There were only Muslim students and their parents. There was limited staff, and they did not even invite any chief guest. The very next day, they held a function for Hindu students, where all the staff were present, and a chief guest was also invited.”

Another parent, Uzma, said the first event appeared subdued. “When we reached the venue, we saw only Muslim students and their parents. There was no chief guest and very few staff members. It did not feel like a proper annual function. The next day’s function was much bigger and grander,” she alleged.

Some parents and members of the local community further claimed that segregation was not limited to annual events. They alleged that students were placed in separate sections based on religion and that in earlier years, Muslim surnames were removed from scorecards and the school magazine.

Syed Qasim Ali, a local resident who filed a complaint through the Chief Minister’s Helpline, said, “Last year, the school printed only the first names of Muslim students in the annual magazine, while Hindu students’ full names were published. Parents objected, and changes were made later.” He added, “Discrimination like this divides children not just in classrooms but in their hearts.”

Rubina Iqbal Khan, a Municipal Councillor from the area, strongly criticised the school’s actions in a video circulated on social media. “This is not forgivable at all. This is a school where Hindu and Muslim students study together. Holding separate events sends a wrong message,” she said, urging the Indore District Collector to take action.

The school, however, denied any discriminatory intent. Joy Joseph, the admission officer, said the decision to hold separate functions was due to Shab e Barat being observed on February 3. “We felt Muslim students might not be able to attend the event that day, so we organised a separate function for them on February 2. We conduct the annual function every year on a fixed date. That is why we did not shift it,” he said. He also cited venue capacity constraints as a factor.

According to reports, some parents who attempted to enter the February 3 event wearing attire such as burqas, abayas, skull caps or kurta pyjamas were allegedly denied entry. Parents protested at the venue and later approached the education department to submit a formal complaint.

At the time of reporting, no police case had been registered. However, around 30 parents reportedly gathered at the education department office in Indore to demand an inquiry into the alleged segregation in annual functions, classroom seating and publication practices.