Teachers at the elementary level in Gola Town have protested a directive from the “Basic Shiksha Adhikari” urging them to help the “kanwariyas” get to the ancient Shiva shrine. The Basic Shiksha Adhikari (BSA) of Kheri Laxmikant Pandey issued an order on July 15 instructing the teachers of nearly a dozen schools in the town to make it easier for the kanwariyas to visit the old temple each Monday during the holy month of “Shravan.” The injunction, which was also made public on social media on July 17, made things much more difficult. However, the officials have made it clear that the directive is only a recommendation to volunteer to lend a helping hand to the administration in managing the large influx of worshippers for “Jal Abhishek,” not a requirement. Manoj Kumar Shukla, district general secretary, UP Prathamik Shikshak Sangh (UPPSS), told PTI that soon after the order went viral, several teachers objected to it.
In order to clear up any questions, he said, “we talked to Kheri BSA about the topic.” “The teachers’ objection was how to comply with the mandate as they had never before been engaged in such non-academic activities,” he said. According to Shukla, the BSA has clarified that the controversial order was simply a suggestion to the teachers to volunteer in helping the administration handle the heavy influx of “kanwariyas” on Mondays when the schools are also closed. “The office-bearers of UP Primary School Teachers Association called on the BSA and expressed their concerns over the controversial order,” Shukla said. “BSA specifically assured us that the order was not mandatory at all and any teacher unwilling to volunteer was free to do so and so this issue now appears to be over,” he said.
According to the BSA, the directive was given in an effort to work with the local administration in managing the significant influx of Lord Shiva worshipers. Due to the historical Lord Shiv Temple in this area, which according to Hindu legend was built by Ravana, a follower of Lord Shiva, Gola Gokarannath is known as “Chhoti Kashi.” Every Monday during Shravan, devotees from various townships and districts swarm here to offer prayers and “Jal Abhishek.”
13 private and elementary schools in and around the Gola town had been instructed to close on each Monday of “Shrawan” because to the significant influx of pilgrims, traffic detours, and vehicular limitations. The basic school teachers of 10 schools were asked to volunteer on their own to assist the “kanwarias” travelling from rural places to reach the temple in accordance with the city route plan, according to Pandey. This was done only to help the district authorities manage the massive influx of devotees. Pandey expressed regret that his order, which was given in the best possible faith, was misunderstood.
