Row over ‘spiritual’ event in T.N.: Principals of two Chennai government schools transferred

Principals of the State Government Higher Secondary School at Ashok Nagar and Saidapet in Chennai were on Friday (September 6, 2024) transferred following outrage over the public humiliation meted out to a visually-challenged teacher in the latter institution when he confronted a guest speaker for preaching unscientific thoughts about past life.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is in the US, said he has instructed for formulating fresh guidelines to streamline various events in schools across the State, aimed at imparting progressive ideas to students and encourage scientific temper among them. Separately, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who felicitated the teacher, announced that action will be taken against the speaker too.

Row over ‘spiritual’ event in T.N.: Fresh guidelines to be issued for programmes in schools, says CM Stalin

Sources said the two schools had invited a guest speaker Mahavishnu, through a Tamil Nadu-based NGO, for deliver a “motivational” talk on August 28 when the first mid-term exam was to be held. However, he ended up delivering a ‘spiritual’ talk.

The speaker addressed the students of Ashok Nagar in the morning and later had gone to the school in Saidapet in the evening.

In a now viral video at the Saidapet school, he is seen addressing students of class 10,11 and 12 claiming that “bad people” or “different” people are born in present life due to their actions of the past life. A visually impaired teacher Shankar had questioned him for preaching unscientific thoughts. The speaker then went on to humiliate the teacher in front of the students.

“He started to speak about ‘paavam and punyam’ (sins and virtue) . We protested, but he continued. When he spoke about disabled people is when the teacher questioned him. We are an inclusive school of all castes, religions and abilities. To single out a type of person was wrong,” said a teacher from the Saidapet school.

With political parties demanding action, the school education department announced that schools will have to seek permission to conduct any non-educational events. “If violated, strict action will be taken,” said S. Madhumathi, School Education Secretary.

‘Spiritual’ event row in T.N. school: Selvaperunthagai, Ramadoss call for strict action against speaker, organisers

R. Tamilarasi principal of the government school in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, was transferred to the Government Higher Secondary School at Pennalurpet in Tiruvallur district. The headmaster of the Saidapet school, K. Shanmugasundaram, also received transfer orders in light of the incident. He has been moved to the Government Higher Secondary School at Anaicut in Chengalpattu district.

Ashok Nagar teachers upset

The teachers at the Government Higher Secondary School, Ashok Nagar school were upset that their principal R. Tamilarasi was transferred despite no controversy occurring at the school. “As the media sensationalised the news, our school came under the scanner. We have always given our best and had the best interest of our students in our minds. To destroy our reputation for no fault of ours is unfair. We will be meeting the School Education Minister to appeal that our principal be reinstated,” said a teacher at the school.