Hindu Boy, 8, 'Forced To Leave' London School After Dispute Over 'Applying Tilak'

London: An eight-year-old Hindu boy was forced to leave his primary school in London after facing discrimination over applying a Tilak-Chandlo, a sacred mark on the forehead worn by many Hindus as part of daily worship. 

What happened at the London primary school?

According to Insight UK, a group representing British Hindu and Indian families, Vicar's Green Primary school staff repeatedly questioned the child about why he wore the mark. They say that staff pressed him to explain and justify his religious practice, a response the advocates called "entirely inappropriate" for a child. 

Did the school make the boy feel uncomfortable?

Insight UK claims the headteacher monitored the boy closely during break times in a way that made him uneasy. The child reportedly stopped playing with other pupils and began to keep to himself.

The group also said the boy was removed from classroom responsibilities because of the tilak. If true, this could count as direct religious discrimination under the UK’s Equality Act, which protects belief and faith. 

A spokesperson for Insight UK said no student should feel “watched, singled out or isolated because of their faith, especially by a person in authority.”

They added that experiences like this can leave lasting emotional effects and raise questions about child safety at the school. 

How did the parents respond?

The child’s parents and other Hindu families met with the headteacher and school governors several times. They tried to explain the religious importance of the tilak and educate the school leadership. But the discussions did not lead to any changes, parents say. Insight UK described the responses from the school as dismissive and unwilling to understand the practice. 

Insight UK also said this was not an isolated case. They allege that at least four other Hindu children have left the same school after similar experiences. 

What's next?

There has been no public statement from the school yet responding to the specific allegations.