Hijab Controversy: Uniform vs Hijab or Hooliganism vs Decency?
Cultural norms and practices in India have been diverse and distinct for centuries from modern western societies. No doubt, the process of modernisation and westernisation has impacted our society and made inroads in the diverse cultural norms and practices of Indian society. Still different religio-cultural groups abide by their own moral and cultural norms and standards. Dupatta, Chadar, Scarf, Pallu and many other forms of hijab are in normal practice in almost all religio-cultural groups in India. Even in schools, colleges, offices and other working places, normally girls and women have been practising wearing different forms of hijab. We can see many girls and women belonging to different religio-cultural groups practising one or another type of covering head and body – generally called hijab – in educational and working institutions – without amusement or contempt. In the same way, many girls and women are seen in westernised dresses without being objected or vilified.
But in modern private schools, the imposition of uniform has replaced all forms of hijab except scarf, and in some more westernised schools even scarf has been snatched in the name of uniform. In such institutions, which are well-known for westernised uniform since their inception, when guardians admit their girls they do so with their freewill to discard their normal dress code at least in school campuses. But in such institutions where girls were allowed with hijab or scarf in normal practice, if new dress code is imposed in the name of uniform, it creates problems for girl students which should be rationally addressed, keeping in view the moral and cultural rights of girls.
So far as the present row in Karnataka is concerned, it has nothing to do with Uniform versus Hijab; it is purely Hooliganism vs Decency and communal chauvinism vs girls’ dignity.
M S Khan
Gaya, Bihar
Solar Storm Knocks Out 40 Newly Launched SpaceX Starlink Satellites
A geomagnetic storm triggered by a large burst of radiation from the Sun has disabled at least 40 of the 49 satellites newly launched by SpaceX (an American aerospace manufacturer) as part of its Starlink internet communications network, SpaceX said on February 4.
What’s solar flare? A solar flare is a massive burst of energy released from the Sun that travels through space as radiation across the electromagnetism spectrum. A related event is a “coronal mass ejection” in which plasma and magnetic field is ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
This energy hits Earth’s magnetic field, creating a geomagnetic storm that can take down radio communications, power grids and even satellites.
Laeeque Nadvi
Via Email