![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OAGOBY2OTKCUMGPOAPJLH2RBSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bffe24c2a8f594b6a964d9855b3108a602320fc8f65d9a42150202849ca2c135&width=400&height=225)
Parents argue with a police official during a protest outside a college in Udupi. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIZJKBJKSCUROVGVZMGEIMQBBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd426f0ee30c9502f6057d8a1e8c7dceda87dfb3d821dcff0f70f7d8f0a050fd&width=400&height=225)
Muslim women wearing the hijab protest in Bangalore after students in the southern Indian state of Karnataka were barred from entering colleges wearing the traditional headscarves. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/26T5UGSMF53WWL36HY4Y2SUUOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5be101781a32d40db35677713db31b10a6f97309c06f6edb3a118a7fbf94ee61&width=400&height=225)
A girl with a placard reading 'Hijab is not just a piece of cloth, it's our dignity'. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5H574QVHWQWPGD4W5ZZQEF2K64.jpg?smart=true&auth=31e38ed95039869aa01328698eade60294b9df0b7c54a2388f475294c87da46d&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of women have been protesting for weeks in a dispute that started when a college said students wearing the hijab were breaking dress policy. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SYJ7VV5VQESUUDVVXJHZVGJXEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7dc30366b906c659cde4bec3b6ccd203279b495570f9cc0d46363d2bcf240c54&width=400&height=225)
Hijab bans and demonstrations against them have since spread to other institutions in India. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJPM6M2FPHUCUPFGBHBTGS4K4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bb64cd9ede939412df7f6051dfc9b3889dbdae42dfc26bb4f3a13a89e3af84d&width=400&height=225)
The women have received the backing of several organisations, while the colleges' stance has won the support of the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VI4OJGPOVRYUFXER5BM4H4STP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=97a0bdf439daf039f14cd3c7c51f429200b6dbf56b579c5269e0590d95afe735&width=400&height=225)
An Indian Muslim woman attends one of the protests in Bangalore. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KSSGJVOFMMQXOYVZ4DG64VRQ3I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7eb4edd7233e6ffd826c2093ad6580ed0b44decf89d4ce1922233198d5b7fa4d&width=400&height=225)
The colleges' ruling is being challenged in court by women who say the right to wear the headscarf is guaranteed under India's secular constitution. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRS2GRYTE4C537YL7R3SOOURPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=36ab628b374597e106719fd29c5bb4924db96c5aaa15b61e363d005e4c0e756e&width=400&height=225)
A banner makes the case for the constitutional right to wear the hijab. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNQGK53ZFUX6PWIXFA72YLR4LA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b25d3fe04204c772fabf8c0a19d3c9345f254c1d6c7aa4ae1b89003195d7d284&width=400&height=225)
Protests have been held for more than a month, since the first action was taken against six students in late December. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FT36GAHOEPHDVXARWQKOKDMEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=82289ed78c9e09cdd152e239cb55c0d8e57d2c67534a717fffe6494f54f1e8b6&width=400&height=225)
Hijab-wearing students speak to their principal outside a college campus in Udupi. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OAGOBY2OTKCUMGPOAPJLH2RBSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bffe24c2a8f594b6a964d9855b3108a602320fc8f65d9a42150202849ca2c135&width=400&height=225)
Parents argue with a police official during a protest outside a college in Udupi. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UIZJKBJKSCUROVGVZMGEIMQBBE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cd426f0ee30c9502f6057d8a1e8c7dceda87dfb3d821dcff0f70f7d8f0a050fd&width=400&height=225)
Muslim women wearing the hijab protest in Bangalore after students in the southern Indian state of Karnataka were barred from entering colleges wearing the traditional headscarves. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/26T5UGSMF53WWL36HY4Y2SUUOI.jpg?smart=true&auth=5be101781a32d40db35677713db31b10a6f97309c06f6edb3a118a7fbf94ee61&width=400&height=225)
A girl with a placard reading 'Hijab is not just a piece of cloth, it's our dignity'. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5H574QVHWQWPGD4W5ZZQEF2K64.jpg?smart=true&auth=31e38ed95039869aa01328698eade60294b9df0b7c54a2388f475294c87da46d&width=400&height=225)
Dozens of women have been protesting for weeks in a dispute that started when a college said students wearing the hijab were breaking dress policy. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SYJ7VV5VQESUUDVVXJHZVGJXEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7dc30366b906c659cde4bec3b6ccd203279b495570f9cc0d46363d2bcf240c54&width=400&height=225)
Hijab bans and demonstrations against them have since spread to other institutions in India. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HJPM6M2FPHUCUPFGBHBTGS4K4Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=2bb64cd9ede939412df7f6051dfc9b3889dbdae42dfc26bb4f3a13a89e3af84d&width=400&height=225)
The women have received the backing of several organisations, while the colleges' stance has won the support of the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VI4OJGPOVRYUFXER5BM4H4STP4.jpg?smart=true&auth=97a0bdf439daf039f14cd3c7c51f429200b6dbf56b579c5269e0590d95afe735&width=400&height=225)
An Indian Muslim woman attends one of the protests in Bangalore. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KSSGJVOFMMQXOYVZ4DG64VRQ3I.jpg?smart=true&auth=7eb4edd7233e6ffd826c2093ad6580ed0b44decf89d4ce1922233198d5b7fa4d&width=400&height=225)
The colleges' ruling is being challenged in court by women who say the right to wear the headscarf is guaranteed under India's secular constitution. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRS2GRYTE4C537YL7R3SOOURPI.jpg?smart=true&auth=36ab628b374597e106719fd29c5bb4924db96c5aaa15b61e363d005e4c0e756e&width=400&height=225)
A banner makes the case for the constitutional right to wear the hijab. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XNQGK53ZFUX6PWIXFA72YLR4LA.jpg?smart=true&auth=b25d3fe04204c772fabf8c0a19d3c9345f254c1d6c7aa4ae1b89003195d7d284&width=400&height=225)
Protests have been held for more than a month, since the first action was taken against six students in late December. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FT36GAHOEPHDVXARWQKOKDMEE.jpg?smart=true&auth=82289ed78c9e09cdd152e239cb55c0d8e57d2c67534a717fffe6494f54f1e8b6&width=400&height=225)
Hijab-wearing students speak to their principal outside a college campus in Udupi. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OAGOBY2OTKCUMGPOAPJLH2RBSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=bffe24c2a8f594b6a964d9855b3108a602320fc8f65d9a42150202849ca2c135&width=400&height=225)
Parents argue with a police official during a protest outside a college in Udupi. AP