Whenever vilification of Islam and Muslims is discussed, many European and North American countries come into our mind. But it came as a shock for everyone when a student in India, a country known in the world for upholding the secular values, was beaten by a school teacher for the sole reason of keeping the beard. A student of class 11, Malik Sanaullah, who studies in Virendra Saroop Memorial School, Kanpur, was beaten by the teacher, Dhanajay Bakreat. Dhananjay fumed after seeing the beard of the boy and then held the beard of the boy in his hand and said, “Either you will remain or your beard.” Immediately the father of the student filed a written complaint against the teacher and the principal of the school suspended the teacher with immediate effect, and formed an enquiry committee to look into the matter.
The student informed his father about the incident, and when his father reached the school to enquire about it, Dhanajay said this is a school and not a place of worship. The incident angered many of the parents and students of the school; however the pandemonium ended when the school authority suspended the teacher and asked the disciplinary committee to look into the matter.