Students from 2 Kerala schools perform Padya Puja of retired teachers on the occasion of Guru Purnima

Kerala’s Communist General Education Minister V. Sivankutty seeks an explanation from schools

Kerala’s Minister of General Education V. Shivanakutty (on the right)

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) – On the day of Guru Purnima, students in two schools of the Bharatiya Vidyaniketan Management in Kasaragod and Mavelikara in Kerala performed Padya Puja of retired teachers. This incident is now drawing criticism. Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty has said that ‘the act of forcing students to wash the feet of retired teachers in schools on Guru Purnima is condemnable and against democratic values. An explanation will be sought from the school management in this matter’.

🚨 When Reverence Becomes ‘Undemocratic’? Kerala Minister Sparks Outrage! 🕉️📚

On Guru Purnima, students in two Kerala schools respectfully performed Paadyapuja of retired teachers; a time-honoured tradition celebrating the Guru.

But Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty… pic.twitter.com/MOVpyeY0n3

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) July 13, 2025

Minister Sivankutty further said that the Government is taking such incidents seriously. The aim of education is to make children aware and progressive. Such activities weaken the basic objectives of our education system. The General Education Department has the right to take action against schools of any board that do not comply with the Right to Education Act and rules. Strict measures will be taken to ensure that such incidents do not happen again in educational institutions.

The Students Federation of India has said that this ritual was carried out in RSS- controlled schools. It is condemnable to force children to wash the feet of retired teachers.