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Burhanpur: A government school in Deori village, Burhanpur district, has sparked controversy after reports emerged that students were allegedly made to perform Namaz-like steps before Surya Namaskar during morning prayers. Following an inquiry, the District Education Officer (DEO) suspended the teacher involved, Jaboor Ahmed Tadvi, on Saturday. DEO visits school and confirms allegations When the complaint reached the education department, DEO Santosh Singh Solanki visited the government school to verify the claims. During his inspection, he interacted with students who confirmed that they were being instructed to perform Namaz-like actions before Surya Namaskar. Based on the students’ statements, the DEO prepared a panchnama and submitted an inquiry report recommending action. Acting upon the findings, the administration suspended teacher Jaboor Ahmed Tadvi. Additional Collector Veer Singh Chauhan also confirmed the suspension, stating that further investigation will determine whether the act was intentional or due to a misunderstanding. Teacher denies wrongdoing In response to the allegations, the suspended teacher, Jaboor Ahmed Tadvi, denied the claims and maintained that he had not engaged in any religious practice at the school. “I was on leave when the incident was reported. The school follows only the exercises listed in the government’s physical education book,” Tadvi said. He described the allegations as “false and baseless,” asserting that the entire episode may have resulted from confusion or misinterpretation of exercise steps included in the physical training curriculum. Hindu Jagran Manch intervenes The controversy gained traction when members of the Hindu Jagran Manch visited the school on Friday after learning of the allegations. The organisation’s district president, Ajit Pardesi, and other members questioned the students directly. Some students reportedly demonstrated the sequence of steps, which appeared to resemble Namaz movements followed by Surya Namaskar. Ajit Pardesi said, “We were shocked to see that children were being made to perform Namaz-like actions. This is unacceptable in a government school. We demand strict disciplinary action against the responsible teacher.” The organisation lodged a formal complaint with the education department, prompting the DEO’s immediate intervention. Parents express anger Several parents expressed anger after learning about the incident from their children during Diwali holidays. They claimed that such practices had been going on for several days before being brought to light. “Our children told us about being made to do Namaz before Surya Namaskar. We immediately approached the school authorities and demanded clarification,” said one parent. Following parental complaints, the Jan Shikshak (public educator) informed the DEO, who initiated a formal inquiry into the matter. Students demonstrate the exercise When the Hindu Jagran Manch team visited the school, three fifth-grade students demonstrated the series of exercises they had been taught. The students claimed they performed movements resembling Namaz first, followed by Surya Namaskar. This demonstration was reportedly recorded and submitted to the authorities as part of the inquiry evidence. Education department orders further probe After suspending the teacher, the education department confirmed that a detailed probe has been ordered to ascertain whether the act was deliberate or a case of mistaken interpretation. Officials also stated that training guidelines will be reinforced to ensure all physical activities strictly follow government-approved materials and are free from religious connotations. DEO Solanki said, “The department will ensure that such incidents do not recur. All schools have been instructed to conduct morning prayers strictly as per prescribed government formats.” The incident has triggered a broader debate over religious neutrality in government-run schools. While authorities have taken swift action by suspending the teacher and initiating an inquiry, community groups and parents continue to demand stronger safeguards to prevent similar controversies in the future.
