Sardar Patel Vidyalaya Parents and Students Host Virtual Session With Zoya Hasan

Around 150 students and parents gathered online on Saturday for a virtual session featuring Jawaharlal Nehru University professor emerita Zoya Hasan, a day after her scheduled appearance at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya in New Delhi was cancelled following protests outside the school gate.

At the virtual Independence Day celebration organised by parents and students, Hasan delivered an address titled 'Why Pluralism Matters', the speech she was originally slated to give at the school on Friday.

Hasan had initially been invited to serve as the chief guest for the school's Independence Day function, where she was scheduled to hoist the national flag, address the gathering, and present awards to meritorious students. However, after protesters gathered outside the school gates on Friday, the institution's managing body decided to replace her.

During the online event on Saturday, parents read out a letter of apology to Hasan, condemning the pressure exerted by external forces on the school administration.

In their letter, the parents expressed regret over the cancellation and noted that students, parents, and teachers had looked forward to Hasan's address at the institute, which was founded to further the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.