What is the ruling on students in schools reciting some prayers/supplications in the early morning with their hands clasped together like Hindus, while chanting: "O our Father, we thank you for the evening... etc." in the Hindi language? And is it permissible to clasp the hands as mentioned, while changing the phrase to: "O Allah, we thank you for the evening... etc."?

It is forbidden to imitate the Jews and Christians in their sayings and actions. The phrase "O our Father, we thank you for the evening" is part of their supplications because of their belief that God is their Father. Allah, the Exalted, said: (And the Jews and the Christians say, "We are the children of Allah and His beloved." Say, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" Rather, you are humans from among those He created). Allah is far removed from such a notion, and it is not permissible to use this phrase. As for replacing it with "O Allah, we thank you for the evening" with the intention of imitating them, and clasping the hands like they do, this is a forbidden imitation. It is better and more preferable to adhere to the supplications found in the Quran and the Prophetic tradition.