Mumbai: Somaiya Trust to ‘end association’ with principal over social media posts

Parveen Shaikh receiving the Smt Sakarben K Somaiya Award for Outstanding School of the Year just six months ago

Days after the principal of The Somaiya School revealed that she was asked to resign by the institute's management over a series of tweets, the Somaiya Trust announced that it had "discontinued association" with her as her social media activities were "misaligned with the values and ethos promoted by the Vidyavihar school". On May 4, the trust issued a statement, saying it had sought a written explanation from Shaikh about the social media controversy and a few other things.

A spokesperson from the management told mid-day, "Indeed, the primary concern revolves around the allegations featured on a news website. We've sought an explanation on several other matters as well. However, we prefer to maintain confidentiality and refrain from discussing these issues with the media, in order to uphold the dignity and integrity of both the employee and the organisation's relationship." Shaikh, however, alleged that it was not just a letter seeking explanation, as the management claimed, but a show-cause notice.

TrustSpeak

The statement issued on Tuesday evening by the Somaiya Trust, which was also posted on X, formerly Twitter, read, "Somaiya Vidyavihar, with a legacy of over 80 years, has always upheld the principles of knowledge, inclusivity, and service as the cornerstone of our educational philosophy. Our motto, ‘Jnanadeva tu kaivalyam [Only through knowledge one attains liberation]', reflects our commitment to liberating minds through education, fostering understanding and serving humanity. Recently, it has come to our attention that the personal social media activities of Parveen Shaikh, who holds a leadership position at The Somaiya School, have been starkly misaligned with the values we cherish. At Somaiya Vidyavihar, we strive to cultivate an environment where knowledge leads to wisdom and uplifts all members of the community, transcending small-mindedness and personal biases."

The Somaiya School in Vidyavihar East

Asserting that it strongly supports the right to freedom of expression, the management further stated, "We recognise that it is not absolute and must be exercised with responsibility and respect for others. Given the gravity of these concerns, and after careful consideration, the management has discontinued Parveen Shaikh's association with Somaiya Vidyavihar to ensure that our ethos of unity and inclusivity is not compromised. We appreciate your patience and support as we work through this review. Somaiya Vidyavihar remains dedicated to providing a nurturing educational environment that honours and respects all cultures and beliefs, contributing positively to society and our nation. We believe it is crucial to safeguard the impressionable minds of our youth and ensure that they are nurtured in an environment that upholds the highest standards of integrity and inclusivity."

Case background

As per reports, Shaikh, via her X handle @ParveenShaikh1, liked and made comments on pro-Palestine, pro-Hamas, anti-Hindu and anti-Modi regime tweets. To one of the posts by a handle, Rants&Roast, asking followers to caption a picture where PM Modi is seen bending a little while standing next to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Shaikh replied, "Tommy fetch". In a post dated June 2022, with a link to an article wherein Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan stated that Qatar's demand for a public apology over remarks on the prophet Mohammed is not important. Shaikh replied, "They have sold their soul to the devil."

She has also been accused of sympathising with Umar Khalid, an accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy' case. In the wake of allegations against Shaikh, the Somaiya Trust's management issued a statement that was posted on social media platforms, stating, "We were unaware of the sentiments expressed until it was brought to our notice. We do not agree with such sentiments. It is certainly concerning. We are looking into the matter."

Shaikh was reportedly asked to resign on April 26 following an article published on a website. The management, however at that time, stated that the investigation into the matter was still ongoing, neither confirming nor denying any request for resignation. This marks the management's first public statement regarding the dismissal of Shaikh, and acknowledging her "personal social media activities" as the reason for the same.

Principal's reaction

Shaikh told mid-day on Tuesday evening, "I was shocked to know the news of my termination from social media even before receiving an official termination notice from the management. The notice is completely illegal and based on defamatory lies peddled against me by OpIndia and Nupur Sharma. My work as a school principal has been exceptional, and my termination for such reasons is wrongful and unjust."

Expressing her disappointment and shock, she added, "I am disappointed that despite my hard work, dedication and sincere contribution to the school's growth over 12 years, the management chose not to stand by me in the face of this vitriolic public vilification campaign run against me, and instead fell prey to it and took this drastic and unwarranted action. This action appears to be politically motivated. I hold firm belief in our legal system and the Indian Constitution and I am currently considering my legal options."