E D I T O R I A L May 12

Indian  School Controversy Special Edition keralamonitor

An Earnest Appeal to Parents, Board Members and Community Leaders to find an amicable solution to school matters

The recent decision by the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman to revoke what is believed to be controversial agreement signed between the Indian Ambassador Ranjith Guptha in 1992 and two private promoters Viz. the Hindu Mahajan Association and P. Mohammed Ali- has intensified the ongoing cold war between the Indian Ambassador in his capacity as the patron of Indian schools and majority of board members on one hand and two prominent private promoters and the board members representing them in the Indian School Board.

Keralamonitor.com gives due respect to the important role played by Kanaksi Khimji and Dr.P. Mohammed Ali, two prominent NRI businessmen for the cause of education and valuable contribution to develop an educational infrastructure for Indian community. It is said that when there were no school at all, the Khimji family used to accommodate Gujarathi students in a small building in Muttrah and provided education to Indian students without expecting any profit. Thanks to the gradual developments in the last two decades, the community schools provide education to more than 20,000 students and employ several thousand teachers and staff. Despite all controversies and disputes, the Indian schools have been functioning normally and the parents expect the current controversy will not affect normal functioning of the school system.

KM portal has been used to air public opinion because the mainstream media have been either neglecting the issue or taking sides in the controversy. The current controversy about the revoking of two agreements by the board and a series of measures undertaken by K.M.Meena, the patron, has evoked mixed reaction from the Indian community, the media and the local authorities. We seek parent's opinion about the entire issue. Send your messages to editor@keralamonitor.com or post them in the KM Guest Book

KM knows very well that many parents are reluctant to express their opinion freely! The Indian Ambassador who tried to take positive steps in the larger interest of the Indian community/ordinary parents has been facing court cases, hate campaigns and harassment. As a parent, what you feel about the whole controversy -- is there an amicable solution so that the Indian community give due respect to prominent community leaders like Kanaksi Khimji and Dr.P.Mohammed Ali for their contribution to the cause of education and development of Indian community while rectifying some of the past mistakes, which somehow happened sometimes back. Everybody involved in the conflict should realize that given the prevailing system 10 years backs, with less amount of public discussion and scrutiny of community activities, businessmen and community leaders who took the initiative would have willy nilly taken advantage of the situation. Now the situation is gradually changing and even the highest authority in the country is pressing for more transparency, accountability and democracy. It is high time that the Indian community leaders realize this change and adapt themselves to the new set up.

K.M.Meena, the Indian Ambassador and a number of board members have been playing key role in their efforts to provide quality education affordable cost. Meena has been one of the few Indian Ambassadors who took a number of steps to reduce the heavy fees burden on ordinary parents and reshuffle the school board and management committees with more representation from parents and ordinary citizens. Thanks to his bold steps, Meena has been able to create a strong opposition party in Indian community activities. Remember that there was no opposition worth the name to question big community leaders or the powerful ambassadors. He has completed two years and should complete his term in office without interference or intimidation tactics. His plan was never to build an empire or make money, but to serve the commonest of the common Non Resident Indians.

There is no doubt that a prominent Indian like Kanaksi Khimji who was recently selected for the Pravasi Bharathi Award and Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, who has build up a big business empire from a humble beginning have played crucial roles in developing their respective schools . The Hindu Mahajan Association too played crucial role in developing business and educational infrastructure. Through their hard work and entrepreneurship, they have been able to amass sufficient wealth and reputation not only in Oman, but back home in India too. It is our appeal to these community leaders to remember that there are hundreds of parents for whom a small reduction in fee will be a boon in this period of economic uncertainty and recession. There are private Omani schools which charge as high as RO 1500 per year for KG courses. Compared to that, the fees charged by Indian schools is negligible. However, these schools are meant to parents who earn between RO 150 to RO 300 per month! Some of the business families which so much pain to provide free basic education to the Indian students when they wre not as rich and wealthy as they are today. Now they can afford to do such things better.

The media is watching, community is keenly watching and the local authorities are scrutinizing the Indian community activities. It is easy to continue the conflict indefinitely . We should select a middle path and settle the matter through mutual consultation and respect. There is no end to the dispute as long as ego clashes, vested commercial interests and other sectarian interests prevail over larger community interests. The other communities and local citizens are keenly watching the washing of dirty linen in public. Everybody has a stake in resolving the issue rather than prolonging it by using money power, muscle power and the power of bureaucracy.

India is a democratic country and concentration of power in a few hands is a dangerous trend. As long as there is a sincere official in charge of the situation, there wont be any problem. If all the powers are concentrated in one place and corrupt official take control of everything , situation would be more dangerous. Our appeal is to have proper checks and balances to ensure that schools are run smoothly. But at any cost education should not be a financial burden to common parents. - Editor, Keralamonitor.com