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An escalating row over the hijab, a headscarf worn by Muslim women, has highlighted India’s sharpening religious divide in recent weeks. After a government-run college barred six Muslim girls from attending classes for wearing the hijab, a debate over uniform dress code erupted across the country. The girls say the hijab is an essential part of their religious identity, which is protected by the Constitution.

Protests both in favour of and against the Muslim girls’ demands have been organised in several parts of India. Some have turned violent. An Indian court has now asked students to abstain from wearing religious clothing in educational institutions till final orders are issued, but the larger issue remains.

Is it restrictive to ask students to stick to a uniform dress code at college level? Should they be forced to choose between education and religious practices? Will it have a wider impact on the education of girl students in the country? How feasible is it to impose such rules in a nation known for its diverse cultural identity?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we discuss whether India’s colleges should have a dress code.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Afreen Fatima, student activist; Sabika Abbas Naqvi, community and advocacy manager, Fearless Collective; Professor Geeta Bhatt, University of Delhi; Priyanka Chaturvedi, MP, spokesperson - Shiv Sena; Kavita Krishnan, secretary, All India Progressive Women's Association

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