New Delhi (Fides Service) - Catholic education in India is highly appreciated by Christians, Hindus, Muslims, civil authorities, intellectuals, men of the world of culture. It is always at the centre of attention sometimes for positive factors, awards and recognition for Catholic schools and teachers, at times for negative episodes (attacks on schools by extremist groups which say Catholic education is proselytism.
Recently in India there were two conflicting episodes. In the north eastern travailed state of Assam, on 22 November in Guwahati, the local Salesian community opened a new Don Bosco Institute for human development and research. Whereas in the eastern state of Kashmir, the local government closed a Catholic school, on the grounds that the fees were too high, depriving 2,500 pupils of an excellent school education.
The new Don Bosco Institute in Assam was inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who welcomed the new Centre saying it will form young people for management and public and private administration. The Prime Minister spoke highly of Catholic education: “Christian missions have largely contributed to the development of society in India in the fields of education and healthcare. Christians offer their services, with exemplary discipline and dedication” he said.
In Kashmir state the local government closed one of the oldest Catholic institutes, St Joseph’s School in Baramulla, which Jammu-Srinagar diocese has run for almost 100 years. The school is one of 31 run by the local Church; the fees are modest and the school give grants to poor pupils. For the local Catholic community this is another act of intimidation, like threats over the past months to close two other schools. Baramulla School, which will mark its 100th anniversary in 2005, was opened by missionaries who first came to Kashmir in 1891. The diocese has said it will try every legal step to allow the school to re-open and resume its valuable service.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2004 righe 37 parole 372)