Khargone Students and Parents Stage Determined March for Teacher's Return
In a remarkable demonstration of community solidarity, more than 200 students from Classes 1 to 5, accompanied by their determined parents, organized a foot march in Khargone district on Wednesday. The collective action successfully secured a firm promise from district authorities to reinstate their mathematics teacher, who had been recently transferred under controversial circumstances.
The Determined March from Sandipani School
The demonstrators from government Sandipani School in Segaon town embarked on their journey toward the district headquarters with a clear objective: to meet district collector Bhavya Mittal personally. The march commenced around 11 am, with participants planning to cover the substantial 35-kilometre distance to the collector's office in Khargone city.
As the procession made its way through local streets, presenting a striking visual of schoolchildren in their distinctive red polo shirts and checked skirts walking along dusty roads, local officials attempted to persuade the protesters to halt their march. However, the determined group remained steadfast in their mission.
Community Voices and Concerns
Several parents articulated their strong concerns about the teacher's sudden transfer during the protest. Swati Agrawal, one of the participating guardians, explained their motivation: "We decided to march up to Khargone to meet the collector and bring back the labourious teacher."
The protest centered specifically on the removal of Natwar Patidar, a mathematics teacher who had been recently attached to a primary school in Dashnawal village. Parents Kamal Chauhan, Amit Yadav, and Sumit Verma were among those who publicly praised Patidar's teaching quality and demanded his immediate reinstatement at Sandipani School.
Nanuram Yadav, another concerned guardian, highlighted Patidar's significant impact: "Due to the efforts of Natwar Patidar, the number of students increased from 54 to 246, but instead of being encouraged for this achievement, he was removed." Yadav further emphasized the seriousness of their demands by stating that parents would pursue mass transfer certificates for their children if Patidar wasn't reinstated.
Official Intervention and Resolution
As the march continued despite initial persuasion attempts, deputy collector Anil Jain intercepted the procession approximately 3 kilometres from Segaon. Following detailed discussions with parents and students, and a telephonic conversation with collector Mittal, Jain provided the crucial assurance that concrete steps would be taken to bring back the teacher at the earliest possible opportunity.
The parents agreed to withdraw their march after formally submitting a memorandum outlining their demands. Collector Bhavya Mittal later clarified the administration's perspective, explaining that two teachers had been removed from their posts due to internal strife that was adversely affecting the school's academic environment.
Mittal emphasized that the action wasn't taken because of any wrongdoing by Patidar specifically, but rather due to frequent disputes between the two teachers that disrupted the institution's normal functioning. The collector acknowledged Patidar's positive academic record and confirmed his imminent restoration, noting that "the school clarified that the concerned teacher has a positive academic record and was actively helping students prepare for examinations, including external exams."
A Display of Educational Advocacy
This unusual protest highlighted several important aspects of community engagement in education:
- The significant value parents place on quality teaching and teacher continuity
- The willingness of young students to participate in advocacy for their education
- The responsive approach of district administration to legitimate community concerns
- The importance of dialogue between educational stakeholders and authorities
The successful resolution demonstrates how peaceful, determined community action can lead to constructive outcomes in educational governance, while also showcasing the special bond that can develop between dedicated teachers and their students' families.
