Bareilly- Rajneesh Gangwar never imagined that his passion for teaching would land him in the middle of a legal storm. The 40-something Hindi lecturer at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Inter College in Bareilly had always been known for his dedication to his students.

On Saturday July 12 , during a school activity in the month of Sawan (a holy month in the Hindu calendar), Gangwar recited a poem titled “Tum Kanwar lene mat jana, gyaan ka deep jalana” (translated: “Don’t go to fetch the Kanwar, instead light the lamp of knowledge”). The poem included lines such as, “Kanwar le jaakar koi SP ya DM nahi bana hai” (“No one has become an SP or District Magistrate by carrying Kanwar”) and “Manavta ke seva karke tum sachche manav ban jaana” (“Serve humanity and become a true human”). These lines emphasized the importance of education and serving humanity over engaging in religious rituals like the Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage where devotees, known as Kanwariyas, carry water from the Ganges River to offer at Shiva temples.

A 26-second clip from a five-minute video of the recitation went viral on social media, prompting strong reactions from local residents, Hindu organizations, and political groups.

The Kanwar Seva Samiti, a local organization, along with a local corporator and members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), approached the Baheri police station, alleging that the poem was disrespectful to Kanwar pilgrims and hurt religious sentiments. They argued that reciting such a poem in a school setting, especially during the Kanwar Yatra (held between July 11 and July 23, 2025), was inappropriate, particularly given the state’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s public support for the pilgrimage.

Following the complaints, the Bareilly police registered an FIR against Gangwar on Monday night under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to statements conducing to public mischief, including spreading false information or rumors that could disturb communal harmony. Baheri Station House Officer (SHO) Sanjay Tomar confirmed that no arrest had been made, and the investigation was ongoing. Baheri Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh further stated that Gangwar had made “objectionable comments” about the Kanwar Yatra during the school assembly.

The school principal, Ashok Kumar Gangwar, noted that he was on leave during the incident and learned about it through phone calls. He sought clarification from the teacher and stated that the poem was part of a school activity. Bareilly’s District Inspector of Schools, Dr. Ajit Kumar Singh, defended Gangwar, suggesting that the teacher’s intentions were not malicious. He claimed the video was old and had been “deliberately” circulated during the month of Sawan to stir controversy. An inquiry was initiated to investigate the matter further.

The incident sparked polarized reactions on social media platforms like X. Some users condemned Gangwar, viewing his poem as an attack on Hindu traditions and the Kanwar Yatra, a significant religious event for Shiva devotees in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. Others defended him, arguing that the poem was a call for education and rational thinking, not an attack on religion. For instance, one X post questioned whether reciting a poem urging students to focus on education was a crime, while another sarcastically thanked the authorities for amplifying the poem’s reach by filing an FIR.

Significance of Kanwar Yatra

The Kanwar Yatra is a deeply revered tradition in northern India, where millions of devotees walk hundreds of kilometers to collect Ganges water and offer it at Shiva temples. The pilgrimage has significant cultural and political backing in Uttar Pradesh, with the state government providing logistical support and security. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s public endorsement of the Yatra added a layer of sensitivity to Gangwar’s poem, which some interpreted as a critique of a state-supported religious practice.