A video clip of the school event triggered Hindutva backlash online
NEW DELHI — A government school teacher in the Uttar Pradesh city of Bareilly was booked on Monday for reciting a poem that promotes education over religious pilgrimage, specifically the Kanwar Yatra.
The poem recited by Rajneesh Gangwar, which was part of a school activity, urges students to “light the lamp of knowledge” instead of embarking on the pilgrimage and emphasises the importance of serving humanity.
In a 26-second clip, part of a five-minute video, widely circulated online, the teacher is purportedly heard telling students in Hindi: “Don’t embark on the kanwar yatra, light the lamp of knowledge instead. Become true humans by serving humanity.”
The video clip of the poem sparked a backlash from Hindutva groups on social media, with many interpreting it as a criticism of the Kanwar Yatra. The Kanwar Seva Samiti filed a complaint against Gangwar, leading to the registration of an FIR under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for “statements conducing to public mischief”.
The police are investigating the matter, and Gangwar has not been arrested yet, media reports quoted Baheri SHO Sanjay Tomar as saying.
School principal Ashok Kumar Gangwar told The Times of India: “I was on a two-day leave. The poem was read by the teacher on Saturday during an activity in the school. I received information about this issue over the phone, and a clarification has been sought from the teacher.”
This incident highlights the growing tensions between free speech and religious sensitivities in the country. The Kanwar Yatra, a significant pilgrimage for Hindus, has been marred by reports of violence, intimidation, and harassment, with some groups targeting roadside eateries and shops over nameplates and religious identity.
There have also been signs of police inaction. Police stood by as a group of Kanwariyas reportedly vandalised a car in Ghaziabad on Sunday afternoon. In Meerut, a school bus was vandalised by the Kanwariyas on Monday after a minor accident. The Hindu faithfuls allege that three of them were injured as the bus hit them on Delhi Road.
This year’s Kanwar Yatra will conclude on August 9.
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Photo courtesy: The Newslaundry
