Rajasthan Dalit Teacher Reposted After 6-Month Suspension for Elevating Savitribai Over Saraswati: Know Her Deepest Regret

Jaipur- After a six-month-long battle, Dalit teacher Hemlata Bairwa has finally been reposted on Tuesday at a government primary school in Ahmeda, Baran district. The District Education Officer (Headquarters) for Primary Education, Baran, Piyush Kumar Sharma, issued an order for her reposting with immediate effect.

Hemlata Bairwa was previously posted at the Government Higher Primary School in Lakdai (PEEO Bandipura) in Kishanganj district, Baran. Following the 'Saraswati vs. Savitribai' controversy on January 26, she faced not only an FIR but also disciplinary action from the department, which led to her suspension.

Despite strong opposition from some villagers, she refused to place a picture of Saraswati on stage during the Republic Day event, arguing that Savitribai Phule is the true goddess of education. The controversy led to her suspension by the education department.

Bairwa challenged her suspension in the Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal, and on April 10, 2024, the department reinstated her while keeping the matter under review, designating her headquarters as the Chief Block Education Officer, Panchayat Chhipabdaud, District Baran, pending further orders.

Recently, Todabhim MLA Ghanshyam Mahar raised the issue of Bairwa's suspension in the assembly and demanded her reinstatement. Mahar shared a video clip of the assembly proceedings on social media, mentioning that the minister assured prompt action in this matter.

The information about her reposting went viral on social media on Tuesday evening, and Bairwa learned about her new posting through social media, as she had yet to receive an official copy of the order. When The Mooknayak reached out to congratulate her, she was extremely happy and eager.

Expressing her gratitude, Hemlata thanked her family, villagers, and the entire Dalit community, as well as the Ambedkarite organizations that supported her financially and morally throughout the struggle.

The Ambedkar Anusuchit Jati Adhikari Karmchari Association  (AJAK) provided her with financial assistance of ₹50,000 for the legal battle. Various social organizations also rallied in her support. The Mooknayak has covered the entire issue extensively, while mainstream media largely avoided reporting on the injustice faced by the Dalit teacher.

On this occasion, Hemlata expressed her special gratitude to The Mooknayak, acknowledging that its series of truthful reports not only demonstrated unbiased journalism but also empowered the struggles of Dalits and marginalized communities.

Hemlata shared her experience of the past three months, during which she had to commute 150 kilometers daily for her duties. "It was impossible for me to travel such a long distance alone, so my son or daughter accompanied me every day. I am grateful that I was not alone in this fight for truth; my children, my village, and my community supported me throughout. The credit for my resilience goes to all of you," she said emotionally.

Her daughter Amisha, like her mother, aspires to become a teacher and has completed the BSTC course, while her son Nihal is preparing for the NEET exam. Hemlata's husband does not work and they live separately.

When asked if, after enduring such difficulties, she would continue to follow Babasaheb's path and promote education, she said, "I did what I believe is the duty of a teacher. Our Constitution’s Article 51A also states that every citizen has a duty to develop a scientific temperament. I merely fulfilled my responsibility, which every teacher should do in every school. Instead of fostering narrow and regressive thinking from an early age, we should promote scientific thinking to eliminate superstition and blind faith. Students should be taught that Saraswati has no role in education; rather, Savitribai Phule fought a long battle and made numerous sacrifices for women and children's education."

Hemlata has deep faith in Babasaheb and Buddhism. Although she has not formally adopted Buddhism, she is greatly inspired by Buddha’s teachings. She no longer observes Hindu rituals or festivals. She explained, "I used to celebrate festivals, but as my awareness grew and I read and understood Babasaheb's thoughts and books, I distanced myself from the negative aspects of religion and superstitions."

She also mentioned her regret over not having had the opportunity to understand Babasaheb and Buddhism earlier in her life. "If I had received this knowledge earlier, I might have started working to awaken my community and society much sooner. Including content that promotes scientific temperament in the curriculum is crucial. Additionally, significant efforts are needed to improve education, especially in rural areas of Rajasthan where the condition of schools and education is quite poor."