Then on April 25, the headmaster sent a letter to Debasish Patra requesting for the subscription. He also mentioned in the letter that this decision was taken at a meeting of the school managing committee. Patra, in his letter sent on April 27, clarified his reasons as to why he was not giving any subscription. After a few days, when the annual result was about to be declared, the headmaster refused to hand over Suman’s marksheet to his parents. A list of the passed students was put up and Suman’s name did not figure in it.  Eventually, giving in to pressure by the others, the headmaster agreed to hand over the marksheet.

We, the ‘Science and Rationalist’s Association of India’ is protesting and crying shame on this incident. As India is a secular country, everyone is free to follow any religion and if one is an atheist, then too, he’s welcome to his views.

Our organisation is fighting against superstition and blind religious faith, since the last 25 years. We give our helping hand to this boy and his father. And we also ask that the government take action against those guilty school management committees who collect subscription for religious festivals by hook or by crook.