Mumbai school principal under fire for her pro-Palestine stance

Parveen Shaikh, principal, The Somaiya School

Parveen Shaikh, principal of The Somaiya School, Vidyavihar, will be facing an inquiry by the school management allegedly for her social media activities. In response to reports and allegations regarding Shaikh liking and making comments on alleged anti-Hindu, pro-Hamas tweets, and using offensive language for PM Narendra Modi, the school's management has initiated an investigation into the matter.

According to reports, Shaikh, through her X handle, @ParveenShaikh1, liked and made comments on pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Hindu, and anti-Modi regime tweets. In one of the tweets by a handle, Rants&Roast, asking for a caption in a bubble to a picture where PM Modi is seen bending a little while standing next to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Shaikh replied "Tommy fetch." In one of the tweets dated June 2022, with a link to an article wherein Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan stated that Qatar's demand for a public apology over remarks on the prophet Mohammed is not important. Shaikh replied, "They have sold their soul to the devil."

Screen shot of social media activity of the principal

A successful principal, a keen academician, PhD scholar, and an ambitious woman, Shaikh has been associated with The Somaiya School for 12 years, of which seven years she has been the principal of the school.

One of the parents who didn't want to be identified said, "I am shocked after hearing this. The matter is being discussed in one of the common parent groups. She has always been regarded as a wonderful person, an exceptional academician, and a very progressive woman from what we know of her, as well as a caring teacher. My children greatly admire her. I feel there must be some misunderstanding."

Another parent said, "I don't know about the issue. But if she has been liking and supporting Hamas, it is shocking. We send our children to this school and if the principal is supporting an organisation like Hamas which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by many countries openly and is liking anti-Hindu posts and insulting our PM, directly or indirectly it is not a good thing."

Screen shot of social media activity of the principal

Distancing themselves from the views of their principals expressed on social media and clarifying their stance, the management stated that they were unaware of the sentiments expressed by the principal on social media and do not align with such sentiments.

In a small statement issued by the Somaiya Trust said, "We were unaware of the sentiments expressed until it was brought to our notice. We do not agree with such sentiments. It is certainly concerning. We are looking into the matter." Confirming the development, a spokesperson from the trust said, "No action has been taken as yet but we are investigating the matter." Shaikh could not be reached for comments.

Seven
No of years Shaikh has been a principal at Somaiya School