Fabrics of Power: Cutting Through the Noise in the Classroom
subject: educational institutions; hijab/purdah/veil; pedagogy; political appropriation; secularism and religion
description: The hijab, purdah and veil though differently named constitute a continuum of meanings shaped by social, cultural and personal contexts. A womans decision to adopt or reject these garments situates her within a shifting spectrum of religious expression and secular alternatives. The volatility of these meanings renders the garments vulnerable to political appropriation, transforming them into contested symbols that are difficult to address pedagogically, therefore becoming a fabric of power. The hijab controversy that unfolded in Karnatakas educational institutions in early 2022 sharpened these complexities, prompting extensive public commentary on the purpose of education, the responsibilities of institutions, and the rhetorics of liberty, secularism, nation and religion. This article examines these commentarial responses ranging from editorials to columns in Kannada and the English media while reflecting on the parallel experience of teaching concepts such as liberty, dissent, secularism and religion during the period of unrest. In doing so, it foregrounds the paradox inherent in the politics of teaching literature, the framing of literature as political, and the pedagogical negotiations required when instruction unfolds within a charged and highly politicised atmosphere. 2025, Unisa Press. All rights reserved.
creator: Abhaya, N.B.
source: Social and Health Sciences;Volume;23;Issue;2;Article No.;16865;
publisher: Unisa Press
date: 01-01-2025
rights: Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
relation: ISSN: 29573645;
format: online
language: English
type: Article
coverage: Abhaya N.B., Christ University, India