Kerala Sahitya Akademi president and noted poet K. Satchidanandan has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the hijab issue at St. Rita’s Public School, Palluruthy, Kochi.
In a Facebook post, Mr. Satchidanandan wrote, “Christ-haters are on the rise. Let them first look in the mirror — and then go to Rajasthan to see Hindu women who cover their faces.”
He added a reminder of Christ’s message of compassion, saying, “Jesus did not teach people to make others weep, but to wipe their tears.”
The statement comes amid a heated debate after parents of a Class 9 student alleged that the Church-run CBSE school refused to allow their daughter to attend classes wearing a hijab (headscarf).
The incident has since ignited Statewide discussions on religious freedom, secularism, and dress codes in Kerala’s educational institutions.
Published – October 18, 2025 02:21 pm IST
