In Kannada there is a very popular saying: “as connected as Imam, Sabi is to gokulashtami“, which in other words means what does a Muslim have to do with gokulashtami, a Hindu festival? Well the same could be said of Ayesha Yasmin who joined for the Bachelor of Commerce course at S.V.S.College, Bantwal. Of course, S.V.S. are the initials for Sri Venkarama Swami, the popular deity of the Gowd Saraswath Brahmin community who had a lot do with the founding and running of this college, though as of now it is a government aided institution.

This college got into the headlines for all the wrong reasons as things in this area are now wont to. We are well known for our moral policing, pub attacks, church ransacking, communal riots and “religious sentiments” getting hurt at the drop of the proverbial hat. The latest in this is this curious case of the girl who wants to wear a burkha to college. For those who may not be familiar this term it is a garment which supposedly guards the morals of Muslim women, and according to some is the prescribed dress code for every Muslim woman above the age of puberty. Let me tell you frankly that I may have a bias in this case because the correspondent of the college, Venkataramana, Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy, is a close friend of mine and we have fought many a issue together in the consumer and rationalist movements. He has taken a stand against unscientific attitudes and beliefs and has been at the receiving end of uncomplimentary remarks from communalists of various hues. Two years ago, he conducted a series of lectures on true education and had invited me to speak about superstitions. After this he had to face the wrath of the community of Gowd Saraswath Brahmins into which we were both born. He had been under attack for inviting a person like me who encouraged students to ask questions about their beliefs, customs and rituals. Probably some of the students had gone home done just that, naming me as the inspiration. Read the full story