Primary school in violence-hit Murshidabad resumes classes as tensions remain high  

Classes resume at Ghanashyampur Primary School at Murshidabad’s violence-hit Dhulian on 17th of April 2025.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

Days after violent protests and mob violence unfolded at Samsherganj in West Bengal’s Murshidabad over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on April 11 and 12, a primary school with around 800 students quietly resumed classes.

The Ghanashyampur Primary School under the Tinpakuria Gram Panchayat of the Samsherganj police station area resumed classes for students from upper primary to class 5 on April 16, just five days after a violent mob vandalised multiple shops and houses in the Dhulian and Samsherganj neighbourhoods.

Three people died in the crossfire — a father-son duo in Samsherganj and a 21-year-old man at Suti. The affected population, still living in fear, has demanded a permanent deployment of Central forces in the region.

Violence affected families of Dhuliyan, Murshidabad wait in queue to receive releief in Pallalpur High School in Malda district after the violence on 11th & 12th of April.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI

The school’s 45-year-old principal, Sofikul Alam, said that on the day the violence had erupted in the area, students and teachers had wrapped up a full day of school activities and gone home safely. 

“The school remained closed on April 14 and 15 for government-mandated holidays. Then, on April 16, the teachers of this school went from door-to-door convincing the guardians to let the children come to school. Many were convinced, and many students are attending regular classes,” Mr. Alam told The Hindu.

Mohammed Farookh Hossain, a mathematics teacher in the school, said the students lived within a maximum of a two-km radius of the school, whereas the teachers lived much farther away, and thus struggled more to reach school amidst the tense atmosphere.

“We wanted to ensure the school is open even if people are still scared. We believe children coming to school regularly is essential in restoring a sense of normalcy in this area,” Mr. Hossain said.

Apurba Sarkar, another teacher in the school, echoed similar sentiments and added that children’s education should not be hindered by fear.

“The aftershock of the violence is still operating in everyone’s minds. As much as we all understand the fear and apprehension, we cannot continue living in such terror. At some point we have to return to our normal lives and help the children overcome their fears as well,” Mr. Sarkar said.

Around 11 in the morning, a mathematics class was in session for students of Class 5. 

“I was very scared for the past few days. I was feeling very weak inside. But I missed school and my friends, so when the forces came and my parents felt the situation had calmed down, I decided to come to school,” a class 5 student said.

Coexisting peacefully

Mr. Alam said that till this incident, Samsherganj had been known as a haven of communal harmony and that people of all religious backgrounds were used to coexisting peacefully.

“In this school, teachers of both communities work together jovially without any bitter feelings, despite the violence that took place a few days ago,” Mr. Alam said. 

He added that teachers from both communities had united to help cremate a former school principal who passed away from natural causes a few days after the violence had unfolded.

“The teacher, a Hindu, was ailing for a few years. He passed away on April 15, just a few days after the violence. The family’s friends, both Hindus and Muslims, helped the family with the last rites. I did the paperwork for his cremation at the Dhulian crematorium,” Mr. Alam said.