Latest news with #SamasthaKeralaJem-iyyathulUlama
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala govt. firm on Zumba in schools, seeks an end to controversy
The Kerala government dug in its heels on Sunday regarding its decision to introduce Zumba sessions in government schools, despite criticism from certain Muslim social organisations and clerics who argued that the aerobic fitness dance format was patently against Islamic precepts. However, the administration also cautioned society against allowing the controversy to escalate into an alienating culture war. Several Muslim organisations sought to moderate the controversy in larger civic interest. For one, the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama (EK faction) leader Nasar Faisi Kudathai welcomed Mr. Sivankutty's statement. Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM) State president T.P. Abdulla Koya Madani urged clerics to refrain from making divisive statements. Meanwhile, General Education Minister V. Sivankutty messaged the government resolve to introduce Zumba in schools. He stood by in solidarity as Zumba fans turned out in strength in front of the Secretariat to showcase the popular exercise format. Instructors guided the adults and children, including families, as they gyrated and gambolled to upbeat music. Against divisiveness He urged society to put an end to the divisive controversy. He said the extreme right fringe, irrespective of their religious hues, sought to inject communalism and divisiveness into the younger generation by attempting to arbitrate on uniform codes, holidays, class hours, and examination timings. 'Such schismatic ruses will not pass muster in secular and progressive Kerala. Students are free to choose not to attend Zumba classes. Attendance is not linked to marks or evaluation of academic performance,' he said. How the dispute began The dispute erupted after the Wisdom Islamic Organisation and the Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), including some ultra-conservative Islamist clerics, opposed the government's move. Some clerics equated Zumba to 'lewd and skimpily clad DJ party dancing' on social media. They ruled that the exercise format violated the lifestyle regulations codified in Islamic law and undermined family and religious values. The Muslim Students Federation (MSF) requested that the government provide evidence that Zumba could prevent drug and alcohol abuse before making the fitness dance form mandatory in schools. However, the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), a prominent social organisation for Hindu backwards classes, backed the government's move. SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan told reporters in Alappuzha: 'Those opposing Zumba should step back. If someone says there is an attempt to turn Kerala into a religious State, they would not be entirely wrong.' The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) urged the government not to bow to the whims and fancies of Islamist groups as part of the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) 'appeasement politics'. However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader V. Muraleedharan questioned the wisdom of introducing an exercise format 'alien to India and its culture' into the State school curriculum. The Youth Congress, Students' Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) denounced the move to impose religious considerations on sports and art forms.
The Print
4 days ago
- Health
- The Print
Kerala sticks to school zumba plan amid censure from Muslim outfits, Congress calls row ‘unnecessary'
'There have been objections from some quarters against implementing sports activities like zumba, aerobics and yoga in the state's schools. However, it's important to understand that these activities are being introduced as part of an anti-drug programme. Such objections, rather than improving the education sector, will inject a poison more potent than drugs into society, fostering communalism and division,' he said. Addressing a press conference Saturday, general education minister V. Sivankutty said the objections will only foster communalism and division. Thiruvananthapuram: Amid Muslim organisations and clerics raising the issue of 'morality' to object to Kerala government's initiative to introduce zumba practice in schools, the state's general education department clarified Saturday that it will proceed with the plan. The opposition Congress termed the controversy 'unnecessary'. He added that the activities conducted in schools are light exercises, with the students participating in school uniforms. He said children are mandated to participate in these activities, and parents don't have a choice in the matter. 'According to the conduct rules, teachers are obligated to carry out the directives of the department. No one has asked students to wear minimal clothing,' he said, asserting that the government was open to a discussion if anyone had concerns but would continue with the initiative at present. The minister also shared on his social media page a video of zumba practice, a dance-based fitness exercise, from a lower primary school in Malappuram district, where the students were seen dancing in their uniforms. Kerala had earlier this year announced the decision to introduce zumba in schools from this academic year to support students' mental health as part of an anti-drug campaign. The general education department's campaign for 2025-26 had kicked off with a mega display of zumba dance in Thiruvananthapuram, in which 1,500 students participated on 30 April. A press release by the state public relations department issued on 3 May in this regard said the state aims to keep children away from drugs by offering positive and healthy activities, as studies have shown that children with mental health struggles are more likely to be targeted by drug networks. However, the zumba initiative ran into controversy Friday as a few leaders of Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, a Muslim scholarly organisation in the state, came out openly against it and alleged that the exercise was against 'morality'. Though not politically affiliated, the organisation is mostly known for its pro-Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) stand in the state. The state IUML leadership has so far distanced itself from the row. The party is the largest ally of the Congress in Kerala. When asked about the stand on the matter, senior IUML leader and Perinthalmanna MLA Najeeb Kanthapuram said the party had not yet discussed it internally. 'We will respond after studying the matter,' he told ThePrint. He did not respond to the Samastha leaders' views on zumba. Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Saturday there was no need to start a controversy over the initiative. 'Now, many youngsters are victims of lifestyle diseases. It's important to prioritise physical health at a young age. So, there is no need to start a controversy over an initiative launched to protect our health,' he said. 'Objectionable' On Friday, Samastha leader Nasar Faizy Koodathai wrote in a Facebook post that the zumba initiative was objectionable as it went against the 'moral conscience' of many students. He said the state government should instead focus on improving existing physical training. 'The Kerala government has implemented zumba dance in schools. Zumba is reportedly a style of dance where people wear minimal clothing and dance together to music. If the government mandates even older children to do this, it is objectionable. Instead of improving existing physical training, such indecencies should not be enforced,' he wrote. 'This would be a violation of the individual freedom and fundamental rights of students whose moral conscience does not permit them to display their bodies and dance together,' he added. The initiative was also opposed by Abdussamad Pookkottur, state secretary of Samastha Kerala Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, who said the dance form was against 'moral values'. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: 'Bharat Mata' portrait pits LDF against Kerala Governor, again. 'Turning Raj Bhavan into party office'
New Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Samastha's history is intertwined with Kerala's sociocultural, edu spheres: CM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The history of Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama is intertwined with Kerala's social, cultural and educational spheres, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said after releasing 'Confluence', a coffee table book on Samastha brought out by The New Indian Express, at Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan received the first copy. 'Several organisations were formed in Kerala with the aim of reforming communities. Many of them became non-existent due to narrow-mindedness or failure to be in tune with the times. But Samastha could remain strong and relevant for a century because its ideas lighted the world,' he said. Samastha originated at a time when the Muslim community faced neglect, Pinarayi said. The organisation could help the community to claim its rights and make educational progress. It introduced Islam's progressive ideas to the world, he said. The chief minister further said minorities in the country are being denied of their rights. 'At the same time, majority communalism cannot be addressed by minority communalism. Atrocities against minorities amount to attacks on democracy and secularism,' he added. Satheesan, in his address, said Samastha made immense contributions to the education sector. 'Large number of students from Malappuram and Malabar are studying in top-ranking institutions in the country and its credit goes to Samastha,' he said.
