I’m that unfortunate teacher who was accorded a ‘ceremonial funeral’ by a section of her pupils at the end of a 27-year-long service. During my tenure as a teacher, I have worked over 26 years at the Government Victoria College, Palakkad, which has a long history of 125 years and is also one of the leading educational institutions in the state. I have also taught Zoology at two more institutions for about two years.
I was working as principal at the Government Arts and Science College, Thrithala, when I got transferred to head the Victoria College at the beginning of the last academic year. In fact, I had made request to allow me to retire from service from that prestigious institution.
Let me shed some light on the events that unfolded over the last one year during my second stint at the Victoria College.
When I arrived at the college to assume the office of the principal, I parked my car in the college’s porch. My predecessors used to park their vehicles in the same parking lot. However, one student came to me and asked why did I park my car in that ‘non-parking area’. Later, I came to know that he was an SFI leader who was the college union chairman as well. I told him that the students have no authority to interfere in such matters.
The next day, he posted a photo of my car along with the no-parking signboard on his Facebook page under the caption ‘new principal’s vehicle in no-parking area’. Actually, that board was put up to restrict parking vehicles of outsiders.
That was how they launched their ugly war against me.
The teachers affiliated to pro-Left associations had unleashed a false campaign against me even before I took charge as principal. They alleged that I was a Congress supporter and I was being transferred to the college to facilitate the government's move to turn the college into an autonomous institution. During my initial years, I had been a member of one of the pro-Left teachers' organisations, but later I severed ties with them owing to differences of opinion. My husband is still a Left supporter. In fact, I do not owe allegiance to any political outfit. My motto was to strive hard for the betterment of the college.
In last January, when the government scrapped the self-drawing officer status of teachers, their pay bills had to be submitted to the treasury through the college office. About 70 pay bills submitted by us were rejected by the treasury after the unit secretary of a pro-left association filed an error-laden PF report. Though he was intimated beforehand, he refused to rectify the mistake. When the salaries were delayed, the other teachers took out a protest march on the campus.
In the next month also, disbursal of the salaries of 14 teachers were delayed after they filed their income tax returns incorrectly. As a result, those teachers barged into my office and protested.
I reported both the incidents to the Directorate of Collegiate Education. As per the directions issued by the higher authorities, I lodged a police complaint against the teachers involved in the second incident.
One of the office-bearers of the association was in charge of the punching system in the college. He was stripped off the charge of maintaining the records after many teachers hailing from other districts were allowed to manipulate the biometric attendance system with his connivance. The incident triggered a slew of protests and the association approached the Directorate of Collegiate Education seeking action against me. However, the department conducted an independent inquiry and found that the allegations were baseless.
There was a court order directing that programmes on campuses cannot spill over 9 pm and students' vehicles shall not enter beyond parking area. I tried to strictly implement both directives.
When the students put forth a request to conduct the A-zone intercollegiate arts festival in the college, I granted approval to the proposal. I had suggested dates for the event, but the university decided to conduct the programme on another date.
However, in the following days, I found out that many of the students were prioritising preparation for the arts fest over academics. Teachers were not present during training sessions most of the time. I rejected the request to allow trainers from outside to stay in the college during night-time because it was against the government directive. Though the time schedule was released only four days prior to the event, we were able to make the programme a grand success. Our college could also win the overall title.
When the internal exams were clashed with the arts fest dates, I approached the university with the students’ plea to postpone the tests. But the university turned down our request. Irked, the SFI leaders created chaos in the college by forcing the students out of the exam halls. They also abused the teachers and prevented them from conducting tests apart from tearing questions papers. Police have registered a case in connection with the incident.
I had no other option than rejecting the SFI’s request to set up their union office in the Amenity Centre building in front of the college as it would violate the terms of agreement with the family of a former student who sponsored the building.
My predecessor went on long leave, possibly following the widespread protests against the move to confer autonomous status to the college and the arm-twisting tactics that the leaders of the teachers’ associations used to tame him. While the person who took over temporarily gave in to their pressure tactics, I tried to adhere to rules while performing my duty.
The teachers’ association was hell-bent on undermining the internal discipline and academic ambiance of the college. They were the masterminds of the ‘grave’ that appeared on the campus on the day of my retirement.
When the father of the SFI leader who faces many criminal cases approached a CPM leader and former MLA, the latter told him that the party would take care of his son.
I discharged my duties sincerely in accordance with rules and guidelines. Is it possible to run a college without maintaining campus discipline? Do these students’ and teachers’ organisations want to see the downfall of government colleges by forcing authorities concerned to compromise on discipline?
According to reports, a CPM leader who is also a former education minister said the grave was ‘more like an art installation’. He has also urged those who prepared it to do some introspection. Let them introspect, but all I wanted is to throw some light on the incidents that led to this ‘grave’ episode.
(The author is the former principal of the Government Victoria College, Palakkad. The views expressed are personal) --
