Distorted Bhupen sketch sparks outrage, headmaster suspended

Silchar: The headmaster of Sonatula ME School, Jiabur Rehman, in Sribhumi district has been temporarily suspended, and the salaries of other teachers at the school have been withheld for one day. The disciplinary action was taken on Tuesday evening after a distorted sketch of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika was drawn on a blackboard during an event commemorating his 100th birth anniversary.The state govt had instructed all schools to organise special programmes in honour of Bhupen Hazarika. In response, Sonatula ME School, under the Patharkandi education block in Sribhumi, held an event.However, during the celebration, teachers drew a distorted portrait of Hazarika on a blackboard using chalk and pencil. The image went viral on social media on Sept 9, sparking widespread outrage, with many calling it a disrespectful portrayal of the iconic figure.The district education department responded immediately. Nilamjyoti Das, inspector of schools for Sribhumi, issued a suspension order for headmaster Rehman and forwarded it to the state’s director of education for approval, which was granted later that night. Das also confirmed that, in addition to the headmaster’s suspension, the salaries of the other teachers involved have been withheld for one day.