Collective backs Ahmedabad school that forced to drop Malala, Anne Frank books

At least 200 people have shown support for a private school in Ahmedabad that was compelled to remove books by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and Holocaust survivor Anne Frank from its mandatory reading list. The collective, Student and Youth Collective, Ahmedabad, released a statement on Monday, urging the state government and all stakeholders to consider the multifaceted nature of education and include critical books and resources in schools.

The controversy began on August 11 when parents raised concerns over a glass piece found in a meal served at the Anand Niketan School Shilaj canteen. These concerns escalated into allegations of religious discrimination following the inclusion of Yousafzai's "I Am Malala" and Anne Frank's diary in the school's Book Club. Parents alleged that a school consultant manipulated the syllabus to incorporate these books.

The school, affiliated with the Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), complied with the demands of right-wing organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, by dropping the books and terminating the consultant's services. The collective condemned the state government's action and called for giving the school autonomy to continue its educational initiatives, emphasizing that schools should be places for critical reading, discussion, and healthy debate.