New Delhi : Ed-tech platform Unacademy has worn severe criticism after a short clip of one of its educator has gone viral on social media, where is seen making racist comments against indigenous communities.
In the viral clip shared on microblogging site Twitter, Unacademy educator Siddharth Singh, in an online session of his lecture, can be seen talking about Jhum cultivation. He was heard saying, “Tribal log jo hota hai humare, dimaag toh hota nahi unke paas koi, nahi unke paas koi, you know, kanooni koi kagaaz hote hai zameen zaydad ke (Tribal people are stupid. They also lack legal documents related to land and property).”
The use of such racist an objectionable language against tribals was soon pointed out by the social media users, and as a result, Unacademy has deleted the video. In a statement, the startup ed-tech said that it “unconditionally regrets the comments”.
Watch Video Here :
Calling out @unacademy and Siddharth Arora for an unconditional apology for him on his unacceptable derogatory remark on Tribals. Seeking for a public apology ASAP.
Video credit: decolonialindegniousmemes pic.twitter.com/fHeGKK9WdC— Heenu? (@HChrips) September 24, 2021
TIPRA chairman Pradyot Debbarma took to Twitter to call upon the Chief Ministers of various states of Northeast to condemn the video.
“I urge upon the CM of different states of Northeast and diff parts of India to write against this education which is being imparted to our students .Racism exists in this country no matter how many times we try to deny it @SangmaConrad @ZoramthangaCM @BjpBiplab
@ZoramthangaCM (sic),” he tweeted.
I urge upon the CM of different states of Northeast and diff parts of India to write against this education which is being imparted to our students .Racism exists in this country no matter how many times we try to deny it @SangmaConrad @ZoramthangaCM @BjpBiplab @ZoramthangaCM pic.twitter.com/HC3NwhjaI9
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) September 25, 2021
Twitteratis slammed the platform for publishing insensitive content in its lectures :
An educator at @unacademy named siddharth singh said tribal people neither have “brains or property or land documents.”
this is preached on online academy supposed to train UPSC aspirants and then we wonder why administrators orders police to break farmer’s head at protests.
— Tribal Army (@TribalArmy) September 26, 2021
Offensive comment against Tribal people won’t be tolerated.
Apology is must!!!— SASHA (@NSSUMMMMMM) September 24, 2021
आदिवासी भोले है। प्यारे है। लेकीन @unacademy के टीचर उन्हें बिना दिमाग या बिना कागजात वाले घोषित करने की भुल ना करें। ऐसा इस प्लेटफॉर्म से बताकर देश के 15 करोड़ आदिवासियों का अपमान किया गया है। इस जातिवादी मानसिकता को सुधारना जरूरी है। मुकदमा दर्ज कराएं जाएं। #CasteistUnacademy
— Tribal Army (@TribalArmy) September 25, 2021
