The District Education Department has ordered an investigation into the incident.
Baran, Rajasthan: Mahatma Gandhi Government School in Baran’s Shahabad in Rajasthan, has recently courted controversy after an Urdu name given to a Class 12 farewell function. It sparked social media row as right-wing groups shared the invitation card slamming the school authorities. The invitation card was designed for the February 28 function and had the title ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’ (festival of a farewell) written in Hindi. The card also carried an image of Goddess Saraswati.
Some copies of the invitation card were shared on social media platforms and it went viral, with many questioning usage of Urdu while attacking the school authorities. Notably, the Baran’s District Education Office formed a three-member team to probe the incident.
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बारां:-महात्मा गांधी राजकीय विद्यालय शाहाबाद में प्रधानाचार्य की अनोखी करतूत,
विद्यालय में हुआ 28 फरवरी का जश्न-ए-अलविदा का कार्यक्रम,
विद्यालय के निमंत्रण कार्ड पर जश्न-ए-अलविदा लिखा देख लोग पडे अचरत में@BhajanlalBjp @RajGovOfficial @madandilawar pic.twitter.com/VJnNFmvL2P— Ram Mehta (@mehta5_ram) March 1, 2025
The investigation team led by Devendra Singh, Chief Block Education Officer, Kishanganj, and principals from two other schools visited the school on Tuesday. They said that the report is being prepared and would be submitted soon. No additional information regarding their findings were conveyed.
According to an order issued by the office, the Urdu word ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’ was inscribed on the invitation card, contrary to departmental guidelines.
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According to school principal Vikesh Kumar, the function was a ceremony to recognise talent and bid farewell to class 12 students. Some Muslim students studying in the school suggested the title for the function, adding that the parents also consented to the name at the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) meeting, the principal told the Indian Express.
The principal added that after cards were printed, they found the name not in line with “government parlance” and thus withdrew the cards. “We withdrew the cards, but a few were left with the students who made them viral. It was also picked up by the media,” The Indian Express quoted Kumar.
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The principal also elaborated that the investigation team reached the school on Tuesday and collected various materials, including the proposal by students, the details of the staff meeting, the videos of the said programme, and newspaper cutting, among others.
“Is it a crime to write “Jashn e Alvida” for farewell ceremony in the education department of Rajasthan?,” wonders journalist and research scholar Raheem Khan, pointing out the orders given by the authorities to conduct an investigation against the school principal for the title “Jashn e Alvida” on the farewell ceremony card. “What a time we are going through in the Rajasthan education department?” Raheem Khan asked.
राजस्थान के शिक्षा विभाग में क्या विदाई समारोह को “जश्न ए अलविदा” लिखना अपराध है? अगर नहीं है तो फिर जिला शिक्षा अधिकारी ने जांच के आदेश किस नियम के तहत दिए हैं?@madandilawar @rajeduofficial @GovindDotasra pic.twitter.com/i9IgUjRyCY
— Raheem Khan (@raheemkhan01) March 5, 2025
