KOCHI: A controversy erupted over the declaration of holiday by the Kerala CBSE School Management Association on Tuesday over the demise of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Monday evening. Social media and chat applications went viral with the quote of Kalam, “Don't declare holiday on my death, instead work an extra day if you love me.”
However, some of the CBSE schools in Kochi worked even as some remained closed on the day. In the schools that worked, there was a drop in attendance. But they paid homage to Kalam and asked the students to imbibe the spirit of the words of Kalam.
T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan, president of the CBSE School Management Association, told DC that the association declared holiday only after the state government declared it. However, the government withdrew the announcement later. This was not possible for the association as it would have caused confusion among the schools.
“Anyhow there was liberty for our schools to function on the day. It is the greatness of Dr Abdul Kalam that is reflected in his words not to declare a holiday. There has been a long association between the students and Dr Kalam . We have shown our respect to him. The CBSE association will conduct a mass all-religion prayer to pay respect to Dr Kalam on Wednesday,” Ibrahim Khan said.
Ms Maya Mohan, Principal of Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Vaduthala, one of the schools that functioned, said that the school was implementing the words of Kalam in their spirit.
“We paid homage to him. Otherwise children would be sitting at home and doing nothing. Here, the day was observed with prayers and spreading Kalam’s messages,” she said.
