Malappuram: Days after various Muslim groups like Jem Iyyathul Ulama and SYS raised objections on school students performing Zumba as part of daily activities, the CPM government came out strongly against the ‘diktat’ and said that students will continue the Zumba in schools as it is conducted as per the orders of General education department.
General Education Minister V Shivankutty on Saturday firmly defended the government’s decision to introduce Zumba in schools, amid mounting opposition from several Muslim organisations. Calling the backlash an expression of “majoritarian communal tendencies,” Shivankutty reaffirmed that Zumba would continue as a part of physical activity programmes in state-run schools.
The Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama and its affiliated Samastha Yuvajana Sangam (SYS), opposed the programme.
Meanwhile, various student organizations like the SFI opposed the statement by the religious leaders and termed it as imposition of ‘cultural fascism’.
“Religious leaders cannot intervene in students participating in exercises that are meant for the well-being, both mental and physical. Zumba is an exercise which is conducted across the globe and no one has the right to stop it in the name of religion”, said Rafeeq, a DYFI leader from Thottumukkam, Kozhikode.
SYS leader Abdusamad Pookkottur called Zumba “against society’s moral values” and accused the government of pushing a culturally inappropriate activity at a time when schools are facing a shortage of trained physical education teachers.
TK Ashraf, a teacher and member of the Wisdom Islamic Organization, publicly declared that he would not allow his own children to attend Zumba classes. He argued that Zumba promoted an alien culture through music, revealing attire, and mixed-gender dancing.
The Kerala government had earlier announced that Zumba would be introduced in schools from this academic year to help students manage stress and maintain physical health. Several schools had already begun Zumba sessions with support from Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). However, the decision sparked a wave of resistance from Islamic organisations and conservative sections of the Muslim community.