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Srinagar, Around 1,250 schools operated by Rashtriya Sewa Bharati, linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), are reportedly promoting Hindutva teachings in the Kashmir Valley, raising concerns among local residents about the ideological education being imparted to children.
According to Kashmir Media Service, these schools, known as Ekal Vidyalayas, are said to be influencing Kashmiri Muslim students with a curriculum that favors Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology. Community members have voiced fears that the educational content promotes Hinduism while disparaging other religions, and advocates for the establishment of a Hindu Rashtra, or Hindu nation.
Local activists have criticized the RSS for using these schools as a platform to disseminate its ideologies in Kashmir, accusing them of attempting to indoctrinate children and erode their cultural and religious identities.
The controversy surrounding these schools extends to their broader impact on the community, with parents calling for the closure of these institutions and the apprehension of their teaching staff. Conversely, representatives of the schools claim their success in deterring students from engaging in what they refer to as anti-India activities, including pro-freedom movements.
The presence and activities of these RSS-affiliated schools in the region have intensified the debate over educational influence and the manipulation of young minds in the context of Kashmir’s complex socio-political environment.