'Hate mongering' by media gives rise to bullying of Muslim children in India

Religious discrimination has spiked over the last few years in Indian schools, says writer Nazia Erum

In the wake of escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, Muslim children are being targeted by their peers in schools throughout India, according to author Nazia Erum.

Erum who penned the book, Mothering a Muslim, said that "Osama, Baghdadi, and go to Pakistan" are some of the terms children have been called in primary schools which has left parents in extreme distress.

The bullying has left mothers shaken, with most of them squarely putting the blame on jingoistic television channels, saying that their “hate mongering” is leading to discrimination and harassment.



“Getting information from various cities that there has been a sharp spike in children being singled out, bullied," Erum said.

The writer added that from her maid, cousins, friends to Twitter acquaintances — everyone was reporting this.

Erum said in the last few years, religious discrimination in schools had gone up drastically.

“But it is these ‘nationalistic’ TV channels which have promoted hate, the worst-affected of which are the children,” Erum said.

The article originally appeared in The Print