The lesson a teacher learnt

R Krishnakumar's wife flanked by her colleagues.

N.S.Sajith

Fortunately or unfortunately, an incident of a brutal and extremely atrocious attack on a teacher caused to rake up some thoughts regarding the functioning of Management Educational Institutions in the state of Kerala. This incident may have multifarious ramification on the future of opposition UDF as its founder leader a politician turned prisoner too, now enjoying a five star life in a luxurious hospital in Thiruvananthapuram came under the shadow of doubt.

It is none other than former Electricity Minister Mr. R Balakrishnapillai, who was punished by the Hon. Supreme Court for one year rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in Edamalayar graft case. Unprecedented incident of the attack on Mr. R Krishnakumar, a teacher in Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School in Valalam, Kollam District, which is owned by Mr. Balakrishnapillai, has made a huge uproar inside and outside of the Assembly. The new revelation regarding Pillai’s phone calls on the day of attack also added fuel to the burning issue. The question of how a prisoner who living in a five star hospital in the pretext of treatment, making phone calls even to the Government chief Whip and many goons in his town, also raised a high decibel protest in the state.

This Kerala Congress (B Group) leader was never put in the jail as political prisoner, but a criminal in a corruption case. Mr. R Krishnakumar, who is still fighting for his life in CCU of Thirvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, had fought a long legal battle against the School Management in which Mr. Pillai is the manager for the promotion of his wife, Mrs. Geeta who is working in the same school. The High Court verdict was in favor Mrs. Geeta and she was promoted as the Head Mistress of the School. Teacher who was frequently threatened harassed by Pillai and the persons in the School management was severely tortured in a deserted highway on September 27^th night. Un identified miscreants penetrated a sharp edged iron rode through his anus and crushed his genital organs.

When we leave aside the political consequences of the incident, the real face of the School Management will emerge into the minds of every Keralite who boasts of his state’s achievement in the field of Education and Literacy. The management Schools in Kerala indeed has done a lot to the development of Education in the state. But their collective bargaining with the government always creates problems in Kerala. These School Managements have a tainted and ugly record in the history of State; not only in the case of their collective bargaining capacity but their ability topple a popular government which has laid a founding stones to the comprehensive development of the Kerala. It was the government led by legendary Communist leader E.M.S Nambuthirippad, ruled the state in 1957-59 had introduced several measures for the upliftment of the toiling masses. Besides the land reforms, the sea changes were happened the field of Education. The Education department under the command of Prof. Joseph Mundasseri, whipped the erring school managements, mainly belong to Christian and upper caste Hindu organizations like Nair Service Society. That government started to pay the salary of the teachers in Schools of Private Management. Managers were treated the teachers as their slaves till that time. This too led to the consolidation of the right wing forces against the governments subsequently it led to the dismissal of EMS government by the President of India by invoking article 365 of Indian Constitution.

Mr. Pillai, also a long serving leader of Nair Service Society is represent of these management is not willing shed his feudal mindset even after half a century. The only crime Mr. R Krishnakumar has done is he resorted in a legal move for a promotion of his wife. For this the teacher has learnt a lesson.