Tilak row in London school: Hindu student,8, forced to change school over religious mark

An eight-year-old Hindu student was reportedly forced to change school in the United Kingdom after allegedly facing discrimination for wearing a Tilak-Chandlo, a sacred religious mark traditionally worn on the forehead by members of the Hindu community.

IBNS • 20 Jan 2026, 05:00 am

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According to reports, the incident took place at Vicar’s Green Primary School in London. The child was allegedly asked by school authorities to justify the religious practice.

The school’s headteacher is also accused of closely monitoring the child during break times in a manner the student found intimidating. As a result, the child reportedly withdrew from play and isolated himself from his peers, NDTV reported.

The student was further alleged to have been removed from positions of responsibility within the school due to his religious practice.

If proven, the actions could constitute direct religious discrimination under the UK’s Equality Act 2010.

“No child should feel watched, singled out, or isolated because of their faith — especially not by someone in a position of authority,” an INSIGHT UK spokesperson told NDTV.

INSIGHT UK is a social movement and advocacy organisation representing the British Hindu and Indian community.

The child’s parents, along with other Hindu parents, reportedly attempted to explain the religious significance of Hindu practices to the headteacher and school governors. However, school authorities allegedly dismissed their concerns with what parents described as unacceptable responses.

“This was not a good-faith dialogue. It reflected an imbalance of power, where Hindu religious practices were scrutinised, minimised, and ultimately rejected,” an INSIGHT UK spokesperson added.