Few things earn the ire of the public as much as people spreading misinformation and instances of brazen cultural appropriation. Most recently, a video of a teacher grossly misinforming his students by telling them that ‘Gamusa’ is an animal, went viral online.
The clip was posted a year ago and titled ‘SSC JE 2020 Marathon Class’. It was initially posted by a learning platform, GradeUp and showed a teacher presenting the information as a multiple-choice question. “Of which state is the ‘gamusa’ a cultural symbol? Assam was shown as the correct answer.” However what irked people online was that the teacher went on to say that “Gamusa is an animal, Abhijit. It’s an animal.”
#Assam| A video went viral on the Internet of a popular educational YouTube Channel named – 'GradeUp' – after Raushan Sir explained Assam’s “Gamocha” (Pronounced as Gamusa) as an Animal.
The video dates back to a year, with the title ‘SSC JE 2020 Marathon Class’.
Watch👇 pic.twitter.com/L5onSvt1wR
— truth. (@thetruthin) August 25, 2021
For the uninitiated, the humble “Gamocha” (pronounced as Gamusa) is a piece of cloth that is festooned with woven motifs. Considered a cultural symbol of the state of Assam, it is usually gifted as a mark of respect and gratitude, reports the Sentinel, Assam.
"Gamusa" is not an animal. It's the Cultural Symbol of Assam .
Shame on @gradeupapp
The students learning from them will end up destroying their career.
Just see the level of the teacher.@himantabiswa @gradeupapp @VoiceOfAxom pic.twitter.com/lwSghB61RP— Raj Singh (@RajSingh__20) August 25, 2021
Outraged at the teacher’s ignorance, people online schooled him. Here’s what they had to say-
Hey @gradeupapp, this is not a real animal. pic.twitter.com/QG9Jnevg4C
— Amalendra Sarma (@amalendrasharma) August 25, 2021
The only animal in this video is the Donkey who is calling the Gamusa an animal ! https://t.co/0h3IADxErW
— Pradyot_Tripura (@PradyotManikya) August 25, 2021
Abhijit, yehi hai woh Animal pic.twitter.com/AbckbVFzdV
— Parag Baishya (@baishyaparag88) August 25, 2021
🤣 , even he is soo confident on this statement . I'm so unlucky after being in assam from my childhood never saw that "gamocha animal" .
— সন্দীপ কলিতা /Sandeep Kalita (@SandeepKalita17) August 25, 2021
A real threat to education system . One must think how to get rid of such teachers . Earlier in 50s 60s 70s there used to b basic training for teachers periodically after gap of say 5 years. All vanished now . Must bring back good systems .
— Alok Kumar Chaudhury (@ChaudhuryAlok) August 25, 2021
— Aditya Saikia (@PappuSaikia8) August 26, 2021
The learning platform soon tweeted their explanation for the goof up, but it did little to pacify the public.
We sincerely apologise for this. In an old Youtube video, a faculty made a factual error while addressing the class. The faculty is no longer working with us. We ensure that Gradeup as an organisation works to provide the best exam preparation for each student to excel.
— Gradeup 🚀 (@gradeupapp) August 25, 2021
You don't understand the emotions related to this "গামোচা" And assamese people… If you have enough time thn come to this place thn you will definitely realize how we treat this " গামোচা "..Not just a piece of cloth… It's our emotion..
— Antarip Kashyap (@AntaripKashyap6) August 25, 2021
What do you think of this blunder? Tell us.