Madhya Pradesh Teacher Suspended Over Yoga Pose Mistaken for Islamic Prayer: Religious Controversy Unfolds

Several Muslim social workers have stepped forward to support the teacher who was recently suspended.

In Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur district, a government school teacher has been suspended following accusations that he taught Hindu students namaz, an Islamic prayer practice, while claiming it was yoga and Surya Namaskar. This incident has ignited both political and communal tensions in the area, prompting local authorities to launch an investigation.

The accused teacher has firmly denied these allegations, explaining that the posture being taught was Shashankasana, a standard yoga position that some parents may have mistakenly identified as namaz.

Jaboor Tadvi, who taught at the Government Middle School in Deohari village under Shahpur police jurisdiction, received his suspension on Friday after protests organized by members of the Hindu Jagran Manch.

According to official reports, during the Diwali holiday period, several villagers and parents claimed students were being instructed to perform movements resembling namaz under the guise of yoga practice. In response to these complaints, the school's acting principal informed the District Education Officer, who dispatched a team to investigate and compile a report.

Shortly thereafter, Hindu Jagran Manch representatives arrived at the village, accusing the Muslim teacher of "teaching namaz to Hindu children disguised as Surya Namaskar" and "promoting religious conversion." They demanded immediate action against the teacher.

The Burhanpur district administration suspended Tadvi while the inquiry proceeds. Additional Collector Veer Singh Chauhan confirmed the suspension, stating, "We received information regarding the incident. The concerned teacher has been suspended and an investigation has been initiated."

Ajit Pardeshi, district coordinator for Hindu Jagran Manch, claimed the teacher's actions were deliberate: "A government teacher was making children perform postures resembling namaz under the pretext of yoga. I spoke to students myself. The principal also failed to notice these activities. Hindu sentiments are hurt, and this is wrong."

In his defense on social media, Jaboor Tadvi categorically denied all allegations, describing them as "completely baseless." He maintained that he was following government guidelines to teach yoga to students and that the confusion arose from Shashankasana, a yoga position that visually resembles one of the namaz postures. "The children were simply practicing yoga. The pose was mistaken for namaz. Suspending me without hearing my side is unjust," Tadvi wrote.

Multiple Muslim social workers and community representatives have now come to Tadvi's defense, calling for an unbiased investigation and urging administrators to verify the facts before implementing disciplinary measures.