Education is supposed to be the great equaliser, a force that breaks barriers and unites a nation but what happens when those entrusted with shaping young minds turn out to be the very purveyors of prejudice? The recent case of Deepali Sah, a Kendriya Vidyalaya teacher who was suspended for spewing hateful, derogatory remarks about Bihar and its people, is not just an individual failure—it’s a damning indictment of the rot that plagues our education system.
A Disgrace to the Teaching Profession
For a teacher to publicly degrade an entire state and its people simply because she was posted there is nothing short of appalling. Her arrogance reeks of the deeply ingrained elitism that dismisses entire regions as “backward” while conveniently ignoring the fact that Bihar has produced some of the finest minds in India. Does she forget that some of India’s most esteemed bureaucrats, scientists, scholars, and even freedom fighters hail from Bihar? Clearly, history was not her strong suit.
A teacher’s job is to nurture, to inspire, and to uplift—qualities that Sah evidently lacks. Instead, she chose to belittle and insult, turning her classroom into a battleground of prejudice rather than a place of learning. The irony? She was likely paid by taxpayers from the very state she had the audacity to insult.
An Education System That Breeds Arrogance, Not Awareness
Sah is not an anomaly. Her mindset reflects a larger issue within India’s education sector—one where government job security breeds complacency and an air of superiority among some teachers. Many educators in government schools treat their postings as punishments rather than opportunities to contribute to nation-building. This entitled attitude is a slap in the face of thousands of hardworking teachers who dedicate their lives to their students, regardless of where they are posted.
Kendriya Vidyalayas are meant to set a standard, to be the pillars of quality education across India. If teachers like Sah are allowed to exist within such institutions, what message does that send? That a government posting gives you the right to insult and demean the very people you serve?
Enough is Enough: Time for a Systemic Purge
Deepali Sah’s suspension is only the first step—now, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan must ensure that she never steps foot in a classroom again but beyond punishing individuals, it’s time for a systemic cleanup:
Mandatory Bias and Cultural Sensitivity Training for all teachers. If they fail, they should not be allowed to teach.
Strict Punishments for Discriminatory Behaviour—not just suspensions, but permanent terminations.
Performance-Based Evaluations to ensure educators are genuinely invested in their students, not just their paychecks.
Bihar and Beyond: The Middle Class Must Speak Up
As India’s backbone, the middle class cannot afford to stay silent. We must demand that our education system upholds integrity and inclusivity. This isn’t just about Bihar—it’s about ensuring that no state, no student, and no citizen is subjected to such blatant bigotry.
Deepali Sah’s words were a disgrace, but they have also ignited a much-needed conversation. Let this be the moment where we, as a society, say: enough is enough. Bigots do not belong in our classrooms. They have no place in shaping our future. And they certainly do not deserve the privilege of being called teachers.
