‘Let Christ-haters first look in the mirror’: Poet K. Satchidanandan responds to Kerala school hijab row

Kerala Sahitya Akademi president and famous poet K. Satchidanandan at St. Peter’s Church in Palluruthy in Kochi. Rita focused on the discussions about the headscarf issue at Public School.

Mr Satchidanandan wrote in a Facebook post: “There are more people hating Jesus. Let them first look in the mirror and then go to Rajasthan to see Hindu women covering their faces.”

Recalling Jesus’ message of compassion, he added: “Jesus taught people not to make others cry, but to wipe away their tears.”

The statement came amid a heated debate after the Class 9 student’s parents alleged that the Church-run CBSE school did not allow their daughter to attend classes wearing hijab.

The incident has since sparked debates across the state over religious freedom, secularism and dress codes in Kerala’s educational institutions.