A government primary school in a village in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district is at the centre of an unusual standoff, with around 40 students taking it upon themselves to fight for their favourite teacher's transfer to be cancelled. The students from the school in Rupnagar village marched to the district collector's office along with their guardians and staged a protest demanding that the transfer of teacher Badrilal Rathore be called off. The children have made it clear that they will not step back into their classroom until Rathore sir returns.
Children camp outside school with placards
For several days now, the children of Rupnagar have stopped going to school altogether, choosing instead to hold placards and register their protest. One of the placards read, we will go to school only when Rathore sir comes back to Rupnagar. Tanvi, a class 5 student, said she had come specifically to get Rathore sir's transfer stopped. Around the same time, a video has gone viral on social media showing several children breaking down in tears during the teacher's farewell ceremony, a clip that has only added momentum to the protest.
No meeting with the District Magistrate, ADM steps in
During a public hearing, the children and their guardians sat down near the staircase of the district collector's office and demanded to meet District Magistrate Misha Singh. Despite their efforts, the meeting with the District Magistrate did not happen. Some time later, Additional District Magistrate Brajendra Rawat arrived at the spot and held a detailed conversation with the children and guardians, hearing out their concerns.
Eight-day deadline, or an indefinite protest with tents
Angry guardians have issued a clear warning to the administration: if Rathore's transfer is not cancelled within eight days, they will pitch tents inside the district collector's office premises and launch an indefinite protest. According to villagers, Rathore had spent his own money to set up several facilities at the school. It is largely because of his efforts that the students have developed a much stronger grip on subjects like mathematics and English, which is why the village does not want to lose him.
Why only Rathore was transferred out of a school with 65 students
The village school currently has around 65 students enrolled. Rathore says his cluster has a total of 75 teachers, yet citing administrative reasons, only his transfer was ordered on 30 June, sending him to Semlia village in the Piplauda area. What bothers the children and villagers is this very question, when the cluster has so many teachers, why was Rathore the only one moved out.
Administration promises to find a way out
Additional District Magistrate Brajendra Rawat said the concerns raised by the students and their guardians have been heard carefully. He said discussions have already been held with the District Education Officer and other concerned officials. Rawat assured that efforts would be made to work out a solution after consulting all parties involved, and also gave an assurance that the children's education would not be allowed to suffer amid this entire dispute and protest.
