platform for online education Unacademy has fired a teacher who in one of his seminars spoke in favor of voting “educated politicians.” During one of his sessions, the teacher Karan Sangwan warned his students not to vote for persons with little education who would hold positions of authority.
The statement was made following the introduction of three new laws by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of the legislature. Shah has stated that the IPC, CrPC, and Indian Evidence Act—criminal statutes from the British era—would be replaced by the three bills.
In a video that quickly became popular on the microblogging site “X,” Karan Sangwan bemoaned having to revise his notes and assignments because of the three dollars.
Now that Unacademy has fired this teacher, it has made a statement indicating that it does not permit teachers to voice their personal beliefs in class because doing so can interfere with students’ ability to study.
Academicians and the general public alike condemned the firing of Mr. Sangwan, with “#UninstallUnacademy” becoming a trending topic on ‘X’.
Politicians like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Maharashtra Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi both denounced the move of Unacademy.
Chaturvedi criticized the edtech platform for firing Karan Sangwan, calling the decision “shameful” because Karan Sangwan’s viewpoint would “positively influence young minds.”
“How is suggesting that you should support politicians who are literate biased? Doesn’t that viewpoint have a positive impact on young minds? Shame on you, Unacademy, if merely stating this opinion lands you a job.
“Don’t understand why everyone felt Karan Sangwan, the professor’s opinion on educated leaders was about Mr. Supreme. Repeat of Kajol level trolling, but here it cost him his job,” she added.
Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, questioned whether it was wrong to encourage voters to be well-educated. I admire someone if they are illiterate. Representatives of the people, however, cannot be illiterate. The age of science and technology is now. Public officials who lack literacy cannot create the India of the twenty-first century.
Sangwan was heard stating, “Aise insaan ko chune jo padha likha ho, jo samajh sake cheezon ko,” in the footage that went viral. (Elect someone who is educated, who understands things.) Sirf aise insaan ko na chune jinko sirf badalna aata ho. Don’t vote for someone who is solely familiar with assuming different names.
The teacher is heard saying, “Even I don’t know whether to laugh or cry because I also have a lot of bare acts, caseloads, and notes that I had prepared,” in the subsequent audio clip. Everyone has to work really hard. You now have a job as well.
But keep in mind one thing, he continues. In order to avoid having to go through this (ordeal) again, vote for someone who has a good education the next time. Ok?”
