Mumbai school principal told to quit over her posts on Hamas-Israel conflict

Pro-Palestinian protesters face off with CHP officers near an encampment on the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) campus, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Los Angeles, California. (Reuters)

The principal of the Somaiya School in Mumbai has been asked by the school management to resign, allegedly over her posts on social media platform X on the issue of Palestine and the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Parveen Shaikh, who has had a 12-year association with the Somaiya School in Vidyavihar and became its principal 7 years ago, has refused to resign “because I have given hundred per cent to the organisation”.

Web portal OpIndia published a report on April 24, highlighting Shaikh’s likes and comments, via her X handle, on posts that were pro-Palestine and sympathetic to Hamas.

Confirming that she was called by the management following the publication of the report, Shaikh said, “In a meeting held on April 26, the management told me that it is a tough decision for them to make, but this association was no longer tenable and they asked me to resign… I continued to work over the following days, but there was covert and overt pressure from management representatives to coerce me into resigning.”

“I live in democratic India; I hold the principle of freedom of speech in high regard as it is a cornerstone of democracy. It is unimaginable that my expression would provoke such a malicious response, furthering their biased agenda,” she said.

“I will not resign because I have given hundred per cent to the organisation,” she said. “The management has always been supportive and positive. They acknowledge my role in the school’s growth and success and are happy with my work. They say this is a difficult decision for them,” Shaikh said.

She said she was unaware of the web portal or the report until she was informed about it by the management. “It was puzzling to understand their interest in a school principal. I was not contacted before publication,” she said.

She said there is no formal protocol or official policy on political remarks in public by employees of the Somaiya institution. But at a meeting in March, she said, it was clarified that “employees are permitted to express their personal views on their private social media accounts, provided they clearly state that these are personal opinions”.

A spokesperson for the Somaiya Trust declined to comment on Shaikh’s statement that she has been asked to resign. The spokesperson maintained that the Trust would not like to comment beyond what has already been stated: “We were unaware of the sentiments expressed until it was brought to our notice today (April 24). We do not agree with such sentiments. It is certainly concerning. We are looking into the matter.”

Meanwhile, a section of the parents of students have reached out to the Trust, expressing their strong support to Shaikh for her “integrity, professionalism and role in steering the school towards growth”.

“Her views on certain subjects do not make a difference,” a parent said. “We see bright and confident children graduating from the school.”