A government school teacher in Madhya Pradesh has been suspended after mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a classroom session, reigniting debate over freedom of expression in Indian schools.
Saket Purohit, who taught at a government school in Shivpuri district, was suspended following a complaint about his impersonation of the Prime Minister. The incident occurred during what Purohit described as an attempt to make students laugh and engage them in class.
"I just wanted to make people laugh," Purohit told the Indian Express after his suspension. "There was no political intent. I was trying to create a light moment in the classroom."
District education officials said the suspension came after a video of the mimicry circulated locally, prompting complaints that the performance was "disrespectful" to the Prime Minister's office. The state's newly created "Happiness Department"—ironically tasked with improving well-being in schools—was reportedly involved in the disciplinary action.
A billion people aren't a statistic—they're a billion stories. For Saket Purohit, a teacher trying to connect with students through humor, the suspension means losing his livelihood and facing potential blacklisting in the education sector.
The case highlights growing concerns about shrinking space for political satire and criticism in India's public institutions. Teachers, comedians, and journalists have faced increasing pressure over content deemed critical of the government, even when clearly intended as humor or commentary.
"This isn't about disrespect—it's about whether teachers can use creative methods in the classroom," said Ramesh Sharma, an education rights activist in Bhopal. "Mimicry has been part of Indian humor for generations. When did it become a firing offense?"
