Women using veils was a practice that pre-dates Islam and was a common practice among the elite in Arabia. In fact, veiling was practised extensively in the past among the women of the Jewish and Christian communities and can be even found today among the more orthodox and conservative sections of society such as the nunnery. Then why is the controversy over hijab such a major issue in light of the events that transpired in an educational institution in Karnataka? Some argue that while religions like Judaism and Christianity have gone far ahead in terms of women’s rights, that may not be the case with Islam