Smriti Irani asks CBSE about letter gaffe
The minister’s name in the letter is spelt incorrectly in Hindi as well as the word ‘minister’
New Delhi: Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani on Friday sought an explanation from the Central Board of Secondary Education over the spelling mistakes in a congratulatory letter sent on her behalf to a school teacher for good results in board examinations.
The CBSE letter went viral soon after the teacher — Richa Kumar of DPS Bhilai — posted it on social media, prompting instant reactions from cross sections of the society.
The minister’s name is spelt incorrectly in Hindi as well as the words “minister” and “sansadhan (in Hindi)”.
“I have sought an explanation from CBSE as there was spelling mistakes in some of the letters,” Ms Irani said.
CBSE is understood to have apologised for the mistake. Stung by the errors, she also tweeted “would not mis spell my own name in Hindi. Have asked concerned organisation to give an explanation”.
Congratulatory letters are sent by the HRD minister every year to the top performers of CBSE board examinations as well as to teachers. “Thank you for congratulating me on the excellence I exemplify. However, having been a teacher for the last twenty years, your official letter head is an affront to my sensibilities as a Language teacher. The attached photographs are self explanatory. Please ensure that at least the people who work for you, in your ministry, are well educated,” Ms Kumar said in her Facebook posting.