– Raheem Khan
Baran, Jan. 29: A dispute broke out between the villagers and a school teacher during the Republic Day celebration in the Government Higher Primary School in Lakdai village of Baran district, Rajasthan.
In the Republic Day program, pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Savitri Bai Phule were placed on chairs. A dispute arose when a teacher objected to putting a picture of Goddess Saraswati there. The villagers reached the school and demanded to place the picture of Goddess Saraswati and start the program after proper worship, but the teacher refused. After much uproar, the villagers removed the picture of Savitri Bai Phule and placed the picture of Goddess Saraswati.
Now the police have registered three cases in this matter based on the reports of the teacher, villagers and other teachers. Education department officials have also started investigating the matter.
In a viral video, villagers are seen misbehaving with the female teacher and pressurizing her to start the program with worship by putting a picture of Goddess Saraswati. Villagers say that according to Hindu tradition, the program should start with the worship of Goddess Saraswati. While the teacher says that this is a school where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are all equal; this is not a school only for Hindus.
In the video, the teacher questions the contribution of Goddess Saraswati to education. “The goddess of education isn’t Saraswati but Savitri Bai Phule,” she asserted.
Nahargarh police reached the school. Although the program had started following consultation before the police arrived, a dispute arose after some other villagers also reached there. The police calmed down the matter. The villagers submitted a memorandum against the teacher to the Naib Tehsildar in the name of DEO Primary and demanded serious action. A committee will be formed to investigate the entire matter on Monday.
Education Minister Madan Dilawar said, “We will get the truth investigated in this matter. If there is truth, we will do whatever is justified.”
Police Officer Devkaran Chaudhary said the teacher Hemlata Verma has submitted a petition, saying that during the Republic Day celebrations, Hansraj Nagar, Radheshyam Nagar, Bharat Nagar, Kishan Nagar along with other members of the same family and Hansraj Sen, Bhupendra Sen of the school staff started harassing her regarding Saraswati Puja and the people of the village harassed her with caste-based words. The police officer said a case was registered on the report of the teacher, which will be investigated by the DSP.
On the other side, the villagers namely Hansraj Nagar, Phoolsingh Gurjar, Radheshyam Nagar and Chandra Gurjar alleged that Hemlata removed the picture of Goddess Saraswati and made derogatory remarks, due to which their religious sentiments were hurt. Along with the teacher, Hazarilal Bairwa, Naval Bairwa and other two brothers and 20-25 people including Lalchand Bairwa, Naval Bairwa, Ramdev, Narendra have been accused of abusing and threatening people of a particular society. Police have registered the case and handed over the investigation to Shahabad DSP.
School teacher Hansraj Sen and fellow teacher Bhupendra Sen also filed a case against teacher Hemlata for misbehaving, threatening to file a case and hurting religious sentiments. Police are investigating it.
Also, an investigation into the matter is being conducted by a three-member team.
DEO Piyush Kumar Sharma said orders have been issued to CBEO to investigate the entire incident. After receiving the investigation report, action will be taken on the instructions of higher officials.
