DJ Venkatesh & Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Aug 21: In Andaman and Nicobar Island nothing is impossible. This is a place where government offices can take holiday twice in the name of same God, call HIM ‘Lord Ganesha’ or ‘Lord Vinayaka’.
21 August 2012 was a working day for all government departments but not for the Education Department as in the Education Department Holiday List of 2012, 21 August 2012 is listed as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Surprisingly once again 19 September 2012 is listed on the same list as Ganesh Chaturthi. It seems that two different Avatars of Lord Ganesha has blessed education department with two holidays this year.
When cross checked Andaman Sheekha found that in 2011 Ganesh Chaturthi/ Vinayaka Chaturthi was listed as holiday on the same day i.e. on September 01, 2011, but surprisingly in 2012 two holidays were declared for two different Avatars of Lord Ganesha. Though there was confusions among in-charge of various government schools in remote Islands but they preferred to remain silent as everyone loves holiday.
When contacted a senior officer of Education department clarified that Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated mostly by North Indians while Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated by South Indians and therefore two different days have been declared as holiday. “Moreover as per norms it is compulsory to give certain number of holidays in schools and hence 21 August has been declared as holiday this year,” he added.
If observed carefully, readers will realize that no one in these Islands have witnessed any kind of major Puja or Celebration to mark Vinayaka Chaturthi today and therefore people doubt whether declaring 21 August 2012 was a big blunder or a simple clerical error, which was overlooked by senior officers.
However, Schools like Kendriya Vidyalaya, St. Mary etc. functioned normally today.
When contacted another officer of Education Department insisted that holiday of 21 August 2012 is totally justified.
“We got holiday from Administration so let it be. Why you media persons are always behind Education Department? Please focus on some other issues,” replied the senior officer of Education Department.
However, for students last seven days were like blessing as since 15 August 2012 they enjoyed atleast four holidays.
