A 'hijab' controversy broke out in Kolkata after a teacher at a private law college affiliated with the University of Calcutta resigned as the institute authorities allegedly requested her to refrain from wearing a hijab to the workplace. Upset with the diktat, she stopped attending classes.
However, after the matter snowballed, the college authorities claimed that it was a result of miscommunication. The teacher would be returning on June 11 after withdrawing her resignation, they added.
Sanjida Qadar, a teacher at LJD Law College for the past three years, resigned on June 5 alleging that the college authorities had instructed her not to wear a hijab at the workplace after May 31.
Sanjida had been wearing the headscarf to the workplace since March-April, and the issue seemingly escalated over the past week.
As soon as her resignation surfaced in public, the college authorities went into damage control mode and contacted her, insisting that it was merely a miscommunication. The college management clarified that they had never prohibited her from covering her head with clothes during working hours, sources said.
What teacher said on college's U-turn
"I received an email from the office on Monday. I will analyse my next steps and then decide. But I am not going to the college on Tuesday," she said.
The email stated that according to the dress code for all faculty members, which is periodically reviewed and assessed, she was free to use a dupatta or scarf to cover her head while taking classes.
"There was no directive or prohibition, and the college authorities respect the religious sentiments of every stakeholder. She will resume classes from Tuesday. There is no misunderstanding. We engaged in prolonged discussions with her. The initial developments were the result of some miscommunication," College governing body chairman Gopal Das said.
(With PTI inputs)
