The Gujarat government’s Youth Services and Cultural Activities department suspended a youth development officer and launched an investigation after an elocution competition was held for students from several government and private schools in Valsad district on the topic ‘maro adarsh Nathuram Godse’ (My ideal Nathuram Godse). Godse was executed in 1949 for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation.
Neetaben Gavli, a youth development officer, was suspended in connection with the event, which was organised for students in grades 5-8 and included prizes.
On Monday, the event was held at Kusum Vidyalaya, a self-financed school, as part of the district level Bal pratibha shodh spardha (Child talent search competition) organised by the Gujarat government’s youth service and cultural activities department. The school administration stated that they had only lent the school premises for the event’s hosting and that no students from the school took part in it.
At the event, students between eight to 12 years from 25 different government and private schools in the district participated across categories like elocution, Doha Chhand sopai, folk music, folklore, essay writing, character roles, choral music, bhajans, folk dance and crafts, etc on Monday, The prize distribution cermoney was held on the same day.
While the news of the contest went viral on social media, the District Education Office claimed ignorance.
Senior Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia condemned the incident and tweeted, “In the name of an elocution contest, in Valsad, this is an extremely shameful attempt to indoctrinate children about Godse being a hero thus founding hatred for Mahatma Gandhi in their minds.” He warned of a public agitation that would ‘usurp’ the BJP if it did not stop ‘worshipping’ Godse.
Valsad district collector Kshipra Agre said, “We have suspended the concerned officer Neetaben Gavli with immediate effect, after we received an order from the higher officials of Cultural department in Gandhinagar. They have also started an inquiry into the incident.”
Kusum Vidyalay, where the event took place, is a higher secondary school run by the Samarpan Chairities. School trustee Vivek Desai said, “Not a single student or teacher participated in this event organized at our school. We got a letter from district yuva vikas office to arrange our classrooms to host the compeititions.”
District Education officer B D Baraiya said, “We were not aware about such an event organized at Kusum Vidyalay, as it was planned and implemented by the district yuva vikas office. The yuva vikas office had on February 8 circulated a letter to all 25 government and private schools in the district and sought participation of students in different competitions to be held at Kusum Vidyalay on Tithal road in Valsad on February 14. Even the judges were deputed from Yuva vikas office.”