Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday advised a gathering of over 2,200 schoolteachers and principals from across India to “celebrate diversity” and “nourish it” because “it is the various cultures, languages and practices that make India”.
There is “huge diversity” in India, and this is the “reality” that has to be recognised”, Mukherjee added.
The former President underscored the plurality of India at a time when politics of polarisation is threatening to rear its head and take control. “Diversity need not affect our united action. Let us celebrate diversity, let us enjoy it, let us nurse it and let us nourish it,” he said at the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations, in association with The Telegraph Young Metro, at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town on Friday.
Mukherjee urged the “managers, teachers, principals, founders and educational administrators” to “partake of this march which they began long ago… to recognise each individual as a creation of God”.
Former President Pranab Mukherjee and (below) Gerry Arathoon, secretary and chief executive of CISCE at the event
Pictures by Pradip Sanyal
“There are various cultures, various languages, various practices that make India…. But at the same time it makes proud citizens of a proud country under one Constitution, one flag, one system,” he said.
Some of the school heads present felt it was important to recognise diversity and help students realise its importance. They stressed schools should be free of prejudice and differences created by language, caste, colour or creed.
“Our school was founded with a vision that would allow students to grow up in an institution devoid of prejudice. It is still very relevant today because there is anxiety in the minds of many regarding divisive thoughts and ideas and our students are made aware to overcome this,” said Terence Ireland, principal, St James’ School.
The new bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Church of North, Probal Kanto Dutta, recently expressed his desire for a more inclusive classroom with respect to the La Martiniere schools.
“The classroom should be a microcosm of the society in terms of representation of different communities,” a church official had told Metro.
Several teachers on Friday welcomed Mukherjee’s “timely reminder”.
“Diversity must be embraced in every aspect. There are people coming from diverse backgrounds, abilities and schools have to accommodate and embrace all of them,” said Seema Sapru, the principal of The Heritage School.
Gerry Arathoon, the secretary and chief executive of CISCE, said the council was set up 60 years ago by a group of educationists who made a “commitment to ensure quality education”. “As we welcome you to the the diamond jubilee celebrations of the council, I invite you to share in our sense of triumph and achievements as we look back on the 60 years of educational endeavour and look forward to the horizons that are still left to conquer,” Arathoon said.
