Students of St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, say they are shocked, hurt and deeply saddened after members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal entered their campus on Wednesday and destroyed the decorations that had been lovingly prepared for Christmas. The students say they had decorated the school compound with lights, banners and small festive items, only to see everything broken, burnt and torn apart within minutes.
The students say the incident has left them afraid and confused. They also say they feel let down by the people who are supposed to protect them, including the government and the administration. According to them, Christmas has always been celebrated peacefully in the school, and there has never been any problem in the past.
The school authorities have informed the police about the incident, and Nalbari police visited the campus to inspect the damage. But the students say the emotional damage will take much longer to repair. 
One student said, “This should not have happened. This is shameless. They think religious conversion happens here. But nothing like that happens. We only decorate and celebrate. Christmas is celebrated every year. It is not new. They came and destroyed all the lights, decorations, and even the gates. Everything was gone.”
Another student said, “We decorated for Christmas with love. Bajrang Dal people came and destroyed everything. Even school banners. We as students want to celebrate all religions. For us, all religions are equal. Nobody stops us here. We should be allowed to celebrate. We even celebrate Saraswati Puja in our school. The school never tells us not to celebrate Hindu festivals. So why were we stopped now? We want justice. We want peace.”
The students say the most painful part was not just the destruction of decorations, but the message that was sent to them; that one group believes they have the power to decide which festival may be celebrated and which may not. Many students said they felt targeted without any reason.
They say they are school-going children, not political workers. They come to school to study and live together as friends, not to fight over religion. For them, Christmas, Saraswati Puja, Eid, Durga Puja, or any festival is simply a day of togetherness, colour, songs and happiness. They say it feels unfair that adults with political motives entered their peaceful space and destroyed what they made by hand.
Students also strongly rejected the claim that the celebration was related to religious conversion. They said it was only a school celebration, like any other festival they observe. Some students said they now fear that if this continues, young people in Assam will start seeing religion as a source of conflict instead of harmony.
Many also questioned the silence of the government. They said that if students are not safe inside a school, then where are they safe? They asked why the government did not clearly and strongly condemn the attack. Some students said they believe the government is too soft on such groups, and that this silence gives people the courage to repeat such acts.
One student said quietly, “We only want peace. We want to study. Why bring politics into our school?”
The background of the incident makes the concerns even more serious. According to police, VHP–Bajrang Dal activists entered the school campus, vandalised the Christmas decorations, and burnt banners and posters. They also reportedly shouted slogans and warned the school not to hold the Christmas programme.
There were also reports that the group targeted shops selling Christmas items in Nalbari town and burnt goods outside business places. A shopkeeper said he never knew it was wrong to sell such items and was shocked when his goods were thrown into a drain and burnt.
The students say this atmosphere of fear and intimidation is not what Assam should stand for. Assam has always been known for diversity, they say for people of different faiths living together with mutual respect. They fear that incidents like this damage that image and plant seeds of hate in the minds of young people.
The students’ voice is simple but strong:
“We are equal for all religions. Why hurt us?”
They say they feel especially bad because schools are meant to be safe places. They spend most of their day inside the campus, trusting teachers and the administration. When outsiders walk in and destroy things without fear, they feel their trust is broken.
Some students said they had spent days helping decorate the school. They stayed after class, hung lights, painted small posters, and set up simple displays. They were proud of what they had created. To see everything burnt and broken made them feel powerless.
They also said that while political and religious groups continue to argue, it is the students who suffer. Their message to adults is clear: stop fighting in the name of religion, and stop using schools as battlegrounds.
The students also criticised the Bajrang Dal for behaving in a way that spreads fear rather than unity. Students said that if adults truly care about the nation, they should teach children love and respect, not aggression and destruction. Many felt that the actions of Bajrang Dal members were irresponsible and harmful to social harmony.
The students also expressed sadness for their teachers and school authorities, who had to watch helplessly as years of peaceful tradition were broken. They said their teachers always encourage them to respect every faith. That lesson, they say, is stronger than any act of vandalism.
The biggest concern shared by students is simple: they do not want religion to divide their classroom. They sit together, eat together, study together, and celebrate together. For them, this unity is natural. They fear that political groups are trying to poison that bond.
They also appealed to parents and society to listen to their voices. They say that when children are asking for unity and peace, adults should not teach them hate.
In the end, the students of St. Mary’s School are not asking for anything radical. They are asking for safety, respect, and the freedom to celebrate festivals the same way they respect others’ celebrations. They believe that in a democratic country, no group should have the right to decide what others may celebrate.
Their message is clear and simple:
“We are students. We believe all religions are equal. We do not fight anyone. Please do not hurt us. Let our school remain peaceful.”
