A government-aided school in Kerala has found itself at the centre of a controversy after a teacher was booked by the police for allegedly asking Muslim students to stay away from Onam celebrations. The matter came to light after a voice message circulated on WhatsApp in which the teacher is purportedly heard instructing children not to participate in the forthcoming festivities at the school.

The FIR has been registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with giving provocation with the intent to cause a riot. Police officials said that while there was no immediate unrest at the institution, the act of issuing such a directive was serious enough to trigger legal action.

WhatsApp audio triggers controversy

According to the police complaint, the teacher, in his audio message, described Onam as a ritual of the Hindu community and told Muslim students that they should not become part of it in any form. He is also heard cautioning parents and families to prevent their children from engaging with rituals of other faiths. The message reportedly added that participation in Onam could amount to “shirk”, a term in Islamic theology referring to the sin of associating other entities with God.

The words, once circulated on school groups, drew sharp reactions from parents and local residents. Many felt that the message crossed the line in an educational setting, where cultural events are meant to promote harmony. Education officials were alerted, and soon after, a police case was lodged against the teacher.

Police probe and community responses

Police officers investigating the case said the remarks could be seen as an attempt to sow division in a community setting. Statements from parents and school authorities are being recorded, and the teacher is likely to be questioned formally. Officials noted that in a state like Kerala, where Onam is regarded as a harvest festival and cultural symbol beyond religious boundaries, spreading such a message has the potential to spark unnecessary discord.

Leaders from different community organisations expressed disapproval. Several Muslim cultural groups too emphasised that Onam had long been observed in homes across religious lines as a matter of social identity rather than ritual obligation. Political leaders from ruling and opposition parties condemned the incident, underlining that no festival in Kerala should be seen in a purely narrow religious frame.

Onam as Kerala’s cultural identity

The incident highlights a deeper debate between cultural inclusivity and personal faith. Onam is arguably Kerala’s most significant festival, celebrating the myth of King Mahabali and the harvest season. It is observed with equal enthusiasm in villages and towns, through flower carpets, boat races, temple festivities, and community feasts. Schools and colleges take it as an opportunity for students to take part in traditional games, music, and cultural programmes.

While individuals have the right to practise their beliefs, officials stressed that a teacher discouraging students from a widely recognised cultural festival sends the wrong message. Observers believe that such acts could potentially alienate children from collective traditions that have helped build Kerala’s shared identity.

What next

The school management has said it will cooperate fully with the investigation and take appropriate disciplinary steps once the case progresses. The education department too has conveyed that no teacher should impose personal beliefs upon students, especially in contexts where cultural events are celebrated across communities.

As police continue their probe under the provisions of the new criminal code, the controversy has become a talking point in Kerala’s public discourse. Even as the festivities of Onam, marked by Onasadya, Pookalam and Vallamkali, continue to unite people, the WhatsApp voice note from a classroom has raised troubling questions about the balance between personal conviction and collective culture in modern Kerala.

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