In a region where communal tensions often linger just beneath the surface, a heartwarming gesture between two third-grade students in Malda has triggered both admiration and bureaucratic concern. A video showing Soleman Sheikh and Sandeep Saha, students of Olitola Primary School in Mothabari, sharing a government-provided mid-day meal from the same plate has gone viral, igniting a wide range of responses.
What many see as a touching display of unity between a Muslim and a Hindu child has now come under official scrutiny. On Thursday, the Primary School Education Department ordered an inquiry into the incident, asking school authorities to explain why the two children were eating from a single plate during the mid-day meal.
According to school norms, each child is supposed to have their own plate and bowl. In case of a shortage, students are expected to bring utensils from home.
A Teacher’s message of harmony
This is not the first time Soleman and Sandeep’s friendship has been celebrated. Eight months ago, when the two were in second grade, their assistant teacher, Rabiul Islam, had shared a similar video online, which was widely appreciated for promoting communal harmony.
Reposting the video this week amid unrest in parts of Murshidabad, Rabiul said, “I posted it on social media as a message of harmony. There was no other purpose.”
The official stand
Malay Mandal, the Malda District School Inspector (Primary), confirmed that Sub-Inspector Ayan Banerjee has been tasked with conducting the investigation. While some see the move as unnecessary, the department insists that the purpose of the inquiry is to assess whether the school’s mid-day meal infrastructure is adequate.
“We need to evaluate the purpose behind the video and check for sufficient resources in the school,” Mandal clarified.
Headmaster Mohammad Rezabul Hossain stated that the school has a functioning kitchen, dining space, and individual plates for each student. “Still, in our culture, it is not uncommon for friends to share food,” he said. “The education department needs to be made aware of all aspects.”
Public reaction: Applause and concern
While many hailed the moment as a symbol of secular unity and childhood innocence, others raised concerns about hygiene and protocol compliance. Some questioned the safety of shared meals, particularly in a structured school environment.
Professor Achin Chakraborty, from the Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata, challenged the bureaucratic response. “Children often share food. If we bind everything with regulations, we kill their spontaneity,” he argued. He emphasised that overall hygiene depends more on cooking and serving practices than on whether food is shared between friends.
The children speak
For Soleman and Sandeep, the surrounding noise means little. Their friendship remains uncomplicated and genuine. “We go to school together. We will go together. We will share food,” they said.
In a climate increasingly shaped by suspicion and division, perhaps the most powerful lesson doesn’t come from textbooks, but from a shared plate between two innocent friends. As Professor Chakraborty rightly notes, this small act might be the most authentic message of harmony in today’s times.
