Govt school teacher restricts expression of Hindu identity by removing image of Goddess Saraswati from the stage during Republic Day celebration
Baran, Rajasthan, India 
23 February, 2024
Case Summary
On February 24, a government school teacher in Rajasthan's Baran district, Hemlata Bairwa, was suspended for disrespecting Goddess Saraswati and hurting religious sentiments. The suspension followed an order from Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar, who announced it during a public gathering in the Kishanganj area on February 23. Bairwa, a Prabodhak level 1 teacher at Lakdai village's government primary school, faced disciplinary action for her remarks. The district education department initiated an inquiry into the matter, leading to Bairwa's suspension. The locals and students wanted a picture of Goddess Saraswati placed on the stage during Republic Day celebrations. The stage had images of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. The govt teacher refused, leading to ire among the locals. The police said that the teacher could have simply respected the sentiments of the students and locals instead of creating tension.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Restriction/Ban on Hindu Practices, under which, the sub-category chosen is- Restriction on expression of Hindu identity. An example of the state-affected prejudicial and targeted orders against the Hindu community would be a government denying the right of a Hindu or a group of Hindus to hold a religious procession owing to the animosity of non-Hindu groups. Denial of the religious right of the Hindus to assuage the non-Hindu group which harbours animosity to a point where it could lead to violence against Hindus is not only a failure of law and order but is a prejudicial order against Hindus, denying them their fundamental rights to express their religious identity. An example of a hate crime against Hindus by a non-Hindu would be a non-Hindu institution forcing its Hindu employees to abandon religious symbols that a Hindu would wear as an expression of faith owing to inherent prejudice against the faith professed by the victim or a non-Hindu group of people restricting a Hindu group from constructing a place of worship simply because the demography of the area in which the temple is being built is dominated by non-Hindus. Such actions are driven by religious animosity and/or prejudice against Hindus and their faith and would therefore be categorized as a hate crime. Hinduism holds its deities as sacrosanct, and the expression of Hindu identity is not limited only to religious events. India (that is Bharat) is considered a personification of a Goddess by Hindus, often referred to as "Bharat Mata". Reverence of the sacred and civilisational land of Bharat for Hindus is also, often, a part of faith. In this case, Hindus wanted to celebrate Republic Day by also ensuring that a picture of Goddess Saraswati was added on the stage. The Goddess is the deity of wisdom and education and holds deep significance for students and therefore, for her to be revered during a school event is expected. The reverence of the Goddess during landmark days for India and as the provider of wisdom is part of a Hindu's expression of religious identity. The teacher deliberately restricted this expression of Hindu identity out of her prejudice against such worship/expression of religious identity. This case is therefore being added to the hate crime database under the relevant categories.
Case Status
Complaint not filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
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