GCC’s only Sanskrit teacher alleges he is "forced to leave school”

Manama: An expat teacher has threatened to sue the Indian School Bahrain (ISB) for refusing to renew his contract after over three decades of service.

Om Paraksh Singh is reportedly the only Sanskrit teacher in the GCC.

There are around 10 students studying the classical Indian language Sanskrit as their second language in the school with a total strength of around 13,000.

Besides Sanskrit, Mr Singh also teaches Hindi.

Meanwhile he claims to have been verbally told by school officials that his job contract would not be renewed since he had reached the age of 60 years, which is the legal retirement age for expats in Bahrain.

“I am forced to leave the Indian School,” Mr Singh told DT News.

“My contract with the school expired last November and the school has not renewed it which means that as per the Labour Law of the kingdom, I can continue for the next two years.

“I have made legal consultations, and one of the clauses in the Bahrain Labour Law for private sector (Article 98) states that a contract of employment shall be deemed for an indefinite period in the following event: if the parties to a contract made for a definite duration continue its performance after the expiry of its term without any express agreement to renew it.

“I will go to school on Tuesday and check if my name is there in the register.

“If it’s not there, I will file a suit against the school for dismissing me.”

Indian School Chairman Prince S Natarajan said that Mr Singh has already retired as he had completed 60 years of age.

Mr Singh, who hails from Ayodhya in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has been working at the ISB as a senior PGT in Hindi and Sanskrit since October 15, 1984.

“I am not going to lose anything,” Mr Singh told DT News.

“But the parents and the school are going to lose an asset which is essential.

“I have been verbally told by Principal and Chairman that my contract will not be renewed.

“I was given a memento for 30 years of service by the Indian School recently.”

The 60-year-old scholar said that if the school demands his service he was willing to continue for another year.

A scholar of Indian scriptures Bhagavat Gita and Ramcharitmanas, Mr Singh has authored two books and the third one is set to be released by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July.

“I have got an appointment to meet the PM on July 3 said,” Mr Singh added.