“Radhe Radhe” and Then Silence – A 3-Year-Old's Mouth Taped Shut in a Durg School
- Neha Kumari
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
The case of innocence turning out to be the victim of the worst and unthinkable incident happened at Mother Teresa English Medium School in Durg, Chhattisgarh.
A child, a three-years old nursery student, almost unable to speak full sentences, walked up to school with folded hands and a big smile on her face and greeted everyone sweetly by saying Radhe Radhe.
It was supposed to be a normal playful morning in school but it turned out to be a nightmare that no child could ever have.
The only jolt to the child?
She was too gay Too talkative.
That was the reason why the school principal allegedly taped her mouth shut-as an action to make her more disciplined.
An Amen Greeting, A Sin Antidote
Radhe Radhe, is something that comes out of a child heart rendering the word echoing devotion, warmth, and culture. Instead of being received fondly or at least with redirection, it was dealt with in the most appalling way.
The child player was terrified and humiliated as the principal of the school used a strip of black tape to seal the lips of the child.
This was not merely a matter of discipline, but uncontrolled power over the one little enough to be unable to resist or even recognize something.
The child came back home upset with his lips puffed up and the eyes full of confusion and fear. Her parents saw the difference and asked her what had taken place and were devastated when they received the truth.
What Schools Do ? The question to ask is, What role do schools do?
Is it to keep us safe or keep us suppressed?
A school is meant to be second home of a child. Principals and teachers are supposed to nurture, guide and protect.
But, what should occur when the goal that was bestowed on individuals to watch over the well being of a child is what instills trauma?
Here the urge of a child to explore and express him or herself was faced with abuse. Not only this is a lack of discipline, but it is moral and psychological violation.
With such cruelty toward a three year old, is a principal who exercises such treatment sending a specific message to their children? That it is bad to be expressive? It is the silence that is safety?
The Backlash and What was Done ?
When the case was finally revealed, people went wild, both on and off the internet. The parents, local citizens and child rights activists wanted action to commence as soon as possible.
There were pickets at the school and heartbreaking videos of the girl and her family spread like wildfire on social media.
The Child Protection Commission of Chhattisgarh - came to know of the issue and made sure that an official FIR was made towards the principal.
This was also followed by a team sent to address the study of the school environment and discipline.
As a good sign of this, the principal was suspended and the school is under investigation.
But that is not enough?
The Psychological effect
There is no need to dismiss the impact this has on the child. She is still in the process of creation at three.
The incident may create long-lasting emotional trauma- development of fear of authority as well as school being associated with punishment instead of education.
The psychologists claim that such acts can cause anxiety, social withdrawal, even speech delay. Healing is time consuming, a therapeutic process and safe environments more than anything.
A single act of horror can change the trend of all the early development of a child.
There is a Bigger Question to be Asked by All of Us
It is not only a single school or a single child or a single principal. This is concerning the rising lack of sensitivity in the educational spaces.
When results count more than people, and socio-economics cut more than compassion, who is the citizen that we are nurturing?
All children have a right to a voice Their growth is all of the greetings, smiling, and inquiries.
Sealing the mouth of a child is not only violence but an assault on innocence, speech and the humanness of child.
Final Word
As this little girl recovers with her parents beside her, we all have to look at what we demand of the schools, teachers and systems into which we entrust our children.
Nobody ought to make a child ever be quiet in its merrymaking Not uttering the words Radhe Radhe. Not uttering up. Not to talk. Not ever.
📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | August 3, 2025
Comments