PANJIM: September 5: The Government of Goa has insulted Goans by recommending the name of Dnyaneshwar Pednekar for the Best Teacher of the Year National Award, said Konkani writer and "Sunaparant" editor Mr Uday Bhembre.

Mr. Bhembre was presiding over a public meeting, convened by Adv Aires Rodrigues, this morning at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall in Panjim, to protest against the State government's recommendation of Mr Dnyaneshwar Pednekar for the Best Teacher National Award.

The meeting recognised the services of one of the good teachers--Mr.  Madhusudan Thali of Chorao--and
felicitated him as the Best Teacher of the Year so that in the years to come it should act as a benchmark as to whom to select for the best teacher award. Adv. Aires Rodrigues said  that Mr. Thali is a unique person not only as a teacher but as a human being too, and besides being a  good teacher he has imparted the skills in Indian classical music to the children of the village.

While emphasizing the importance of the Teachers' Day, celebrated all over the country today, Mr.Bhembre said that the day is dedicated specially to teachers because the field of education is crucial for the formation of human character.

He said, "If Dnyaneshwar Pednekar had committed a minor lapse, it would have been understandable. But when a person swears on a false affidavit, to change his birth date, it is an illegal and immoral act.
Moreover, when a teacher in the educational field commits such an act, instead of qualifying for an
award he renders himself to disqualification as a teacher."

Mr. Bhembre said, "The government, which has committed a mistake and insulted Goans, should ask the people pardon for the act and should henceforth have proper screening procedure to ensure that the right teachers are selected for Best Teacher Awards.

Mr. Bhembre further stated that by recommending Mr. Pednekar's name for the award the government gives a message to the people that if the citizen's political affiliation is with the government, then the citizen can not only get away with any immoral, illegal act in society, but the government will
not mind bestowing honours on him.

He added, "The crisis of character, integrity and morality has already overshot its limits in our country. Instead of reducing it, attempts are on to increase it. Mr. Bhembre reminded the government "Goa has given eminent educationists to the world whose example we can take. If good people are to be selected, the responsibility to do so needs to be invested in good people."

Convenor Aires Rodrigues conducted the meeting, which was addressed by Adv. Satish Sonak, Averthanus D'Souza, Dilip Borkar, Vaman Vaidya, Premanand Lotlikar, Dr. Meenakshi Martins, Ravindra Nagvenkar (the President of All Goa Secondary Teachers' Association) and Vaman  Vaidya. Adv Aires Rodrigues said, "The issue before us today is very clear--that high awards should not be politicized and the grade of these awards should not be devalued so that for posterity these awards are not
considered as just a piece of paper."

"If Mr. Parrikar tries to stifle the opposition, he would not be able to  realise the drawbacks of his
government, which will enable him to improve the performance of his government," Adv Rodrigues said. He added that Mr. Parrikar has tried to stifle the various departments and organs of the government which are necessary for the proper functioning of democracy, and urged him to encourage constructive criticism.

"One of the allegations of the present case is that Mr. Pednekar changed his daughter's birth-date to
2nd October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who wrote 'My Experiments with  Truth'. At least on his birth date people in India should have said that we will speak the truth and nothing but the truth. Does such a person deserve to get this award?" Adv Sonak asked.

Writer and a former teacher, Mr. Dilip Borkar, said that he is glad that he is no longer a teacher
otherwise we would have been ashamed to go around as a teacher today when  such shameful acts are being committed by the persons in the most admired profession. Mr. Borkar said that Pednekar, despite
being a teacher, changed not only his birth-date but that of his daughter too.

Theatre personality and social worker Premanand Lotlikar said, "If this society has to improve, if future generations should be good, if our country has to progress, a teacher has to be a good example to our
students." He also said, "When a small child commits a mistake or changes a figure on his markesheet or elsewhere, he is punished; why should a teacher, who commits such gross misbehaviour, should go scot-free?"

Mr. Ravindra Nagvenkar, President of All Goa Secondary Teacher's Association, disclosed several details of the illegal acts which Mr. Pednekar has committed and said that all the facts have been conveyed to the government. He also detailed how Mr. Pednekar has obtained promotion  despite not being eligible for the same.

Social Activist Averthanus D'Souza said that there are thousands of good teachers in Goa who have dedicated their lives to teaching but the awarding of the best teacher award to Pednekar "is a slap on the face of decent teachers".

Social Worker Vaman Vaidya, disclosed more details of the illegalities indulged in by Mr. Pednekar.
If such a person gets a Best Teacher National Award, no one will lay their trust in the teachers anymore, feared Dr. Meenakshi Martins.

A resolution passed at the meeting, attended by teachers, students and others, condemned the decision
of the government to recommend the name of Dnyaneshwar Pednekar, Principal  of Chandrabaga Tukoba Naik High Secondary School, Curchorem, for the Best Teacher of the Year national award in view of the unscrupulous acts committed by him in changing his and his daughter's date of birth by making  false declarations. The resolution also called upon the Goa Government not to politicize the process of selecting people to high awards but to ensure that national awards do not end up being political rewards as is evident in the case of Mr. Pednekar.