Saraswati Vs Savitri Debate: RAT Questions Education Department's Actions Against Hemlata Bairwa, Issues Notice

Jaipur: In a significant development, the Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal (RAT) has issued a notice to the state Education Department concerning the case of Hemlata Bairwa, the Dalit teacher who declined to worship Devi Saraswati on Republic Day.

Following the refusal, she was placed under suspension and transferred to Education Directorate at Bikaner, which is over 100 km away from her place.

Social organisations are coming forward to help Dalit teacher who defiantly refused to worship Devi Saraswati on the occasion of Republic Day, stating that “Mata Savitri Bai Phule” is the real goddess of education.

Dr Ambedkar Anusuchit Jati Adhikari Karmchari Association (AJAK) — an association of scheduled caste officers and employees — has donated Rs 50,000 to Bairwa as a financial support to fight the ongoing legal case against her. 

The Dalit teacher has challenged her suspension in Rajasthan Administrative Tribunal — which has sought a reply from the Education Department through a show cause notice. 

Retired IPS Officer Satyaveer Singh, an office bearer of the AJAK, told The Mooknayak, “Our organisation works for the protection and constitutional rights of the officers and the employees. Hemlata approached us for legal help, though she has hired her own lawyer.”

He claimed the association has helped her financially to mitigate her damage so that the morale of the employee remains intact, and she gets financial backing. This will also inspire people to join the organizations and unite. 

In addition, two other teachers — Pooja Bunkar and Mukesh Bunkar — have also become victims of alleged government harassment. The AJAK claimed to provide them as well as a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 each.

Bairwa talked about adhering to the Constitutional values  in government educational institutions in spite of the fact that the government took action against her. 

In this regard, Singh said, “Indian Constitution was framed and drafted under the leadership of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar with the belief that everyone will gradually abide by scientific approach. A person’s freedom and rights would be protected under the Constitution.”

On the other hand, Bairwa is asking the same question: “What wrong did I do?” “Under the Indian Constitution, religious education is barred and so is worship. They were mounting pressure on me to conduct the Saraswati Pooja that I refused and called Savitri Bai Phule as the goddess of education,” she told The Mooknayak.

(Translated into English by Pratikshit Singh)