Student changes college after headscarf row

Mangalore: As 18-year-old Ayesha Ashmin begins classes at a new college near here after a raging controversy over her Islamic headscarf - her last college would not let her wear it - all she wants is a peaceful life.

"I am happy to restart my studies, which got disrupted for almost a month. The entire headscarf row at my earlier college was a testing time for me and my family," Ayesha said at her home here.

Ayesha was in the centre of a controversy about a month ago when she protested the Sri Venkataramana Swamy (SVS) Degree College authorities' refusal to allow her to wear a headscarf.

She has left the college even though it eventually agreed to a compromise arrangement.

"However, I am satisfied with the compromise agreement worked out by the college to allow girl students to wear headscarves and attend classes.

"With the entire episode coming to an end, now I want to lead a peaceful life," added the first-year Bachelor of commerce student, who joined her new college on Monday.

Echoing Ayesha, her father B. Mohammad said: "Thanks to Allah, the controversy has ended. Now, we want to lead a normal and peaceful life."

Mohammad, who runs a small business, said Ayesha wanted to continue her studies in SVS College, but her mother was apprehensive about her safety.

"So, we have admitted her to Hira Women's College. The college is at Babukatte, around 30 kilometres from here," added Mohammad.