Seven Square Academy in Mira Road East has rescinded a controversial directive asking students to avoid onion and garlic during the Jain festival of Paryushan after intense criticism from Shiv Sena and MNS.

  • Seven Square Academy issued a circular banning 'Kanda-Mool' (root vegetables) during the Paryushan period.
  • Political heavyweights from Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS slammed the move as an imposition of religious beliefs.
  • The school withdrew the order following accusations of issuing a 'fatwa' in a secular educational space.

A significant controversy erupted in Mira Road East, Maharashtra, when Seven Square Academy—managed by the spouse of BJP MLA Narendra Mehta—issued a directive on September 8. The circular requested parents to ensure that students' tiffins were free of 'Kanda-Mool' (onion, garlic, and potato) during the Jain festival of Paryushan, which ran from September 8 to 16.

The school further announced that its internal canteen would strictly serve food without these ingredients to align with the traditional practices associated with the festival. While the management framed it as a request to maintain a 'pious environment,' the move sparked an immediate political firestorm.

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The Political Firestorm

The directive faced swift condemnation from across the political spectrum. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led the charge, with Robert D’Souza, president of the MNS Students’ Wing, labeling the circular 'shameful.' He formally lodged a complaint with the education department, demanding the cancellation of the school's license on the grounds that educational institutions must remain secular spaces.

Adding fuel to the fire, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut characterized the issue as a serious infringement on personal liberty, questioning whether such institutions would eventually decide what the people of Mumbai are allowed to eat. Similarly, Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratip Sarnaik described the circular as a 'fatwa,' asserting that religion, caste, and creed have no place in schools.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights the fragile intersection of private educational management and constitutional secularism in India. When a school, even under the guise of 'satvik' food or religious respect, influences the dietary choices of a diverse student body, it risks alienating minority groups and violating the principle of individual autonomy. The rapid U-turn by the school underscores the power of political oversight in preventing the institutionalization of religious norms in public-facing education.

"The moment a school attempts to regulate the tiffin box based on religious calendars, it ceases to be a center of learning and becomes a center of indoctrination."

In defense of the academy, MLA Narendra Mehta claimed there was no compulsion and that the school simply wanted to encourage nutritious, satvik food. However, the backlash was too severe to ignore, leading the school to officially withdraw the circular and claim the matter was 'unnecessarily highlighted' by the media.

Did You Know?: Paryushan is the most important annual holy event for Jains, focusing on forgiveness, fasting, and the avoidance of root vegetables to prevent the killing of tiny organisms living in the soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What was the 'Kanda-Mool' directive?
It was a school circular asking students to avoid onion, garlic, and potatoes in their lunch boxes during the Jain festival of Paryushan.

2. Why did the school eventually withdraw the circular?
The school faced intense pressure from political parties like Shiv Sena and MNS, who viewed the move as an imposition of religious practices in a secular school.