A Dehradun school where students recite Quran and Hanuman Chalisa

Dehradun, Nov.25 : A Dehradun school here is inculcating communal harmony and secular feeling among its students by enabling them to recite passages from Holy Quran as well as chant Gayatri Mantra and Hanuman Chalisa during assembly everyday.

The novel method of devloping secular feelings and respect for all religions is something that has appealed all students at the school.

There are 450 students at the Sanatan Dharma Senior Seconday School, two hundred of them being Muslim girls.

Students are happy to be part of such a secular environment.

"It makes me feel good when I chant Gayatri Mantra, Hanuman Chalisa and take part in Gita recitation competitions that take place in our school. I give the credit to all my teachers who have taught us all these things," said Heena Mallik, one of the five main students who have learnt Hindus' Hanuman Chalisa and Gayatri Mantra by heart and recite before all students during assembly.

On Tuesday, students chant Hanuman Chalisa along with the daily prayers, which include Saraswati Vandana, Gayatri Mantra, the Holy Quran and the national anthem.

"Fifty per cent of the students are Mohammedans and the rest belong to Hindu religion. We teach them about every religion. They are also allowed to perform their own religious prayers also. The response has been very good so far now. I wonder why people fight on this Hindu-Muslim issue," said Rani Pushpa Aggarwal, Principal of the Sanatana Dharma Senior Secondary School.

The school has lived upto its name that does not discriminate society in terms of faith, caste, colour and language.

Located on Raja Marg in Dehradun, the Sanatan Dharma school, is regarded as a trend-setter in furthering communal harmony. by Asheesh Goyal

ANI