Thiruvananthapuram: Alumnus bid to save school from crisis

Thiruvananthapuram: Over the past few years, at every reunion at Government Central High School, Attakulangara, you would find this thin person with a satchel clicking photos. Dr Subramani M, the alumnus who graduated from Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, had migrated to Albuquerque with his family years ago. However, he makes it a point to visit the school at least once, if not twice every year.

He was one of the school’s alumni who rushed to its rescue when they heard that a government order threatened to axe its future and its trees. “After passing, I was invited to its centenary celebrations in 1978, especially as I was the SSLC first rank holder in 1971. I brought my son when he was in the seventh grade and saw that it was not doing well. But it was when the school was under threat, that I started coming so often,” he says.

The order during the previous administration had handed over part of its land to Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority. The school – where the likes of Ulloor taught – was written off as an ‘uneconomical’ one, an extravagance of 5.5 acres for less than 50 students.

“We wanted to mobilise a movement, set an example. The government school at Nadakkavu was a model too, however, it was different. A wealthy benefactor had come forward to help the school. But money will be of help only to some level. We needed to generate enthusiasm,” he says.

Now a faculty of biomedical informatics at the University of New Mexico, he says, “I have an interest in education as I am an educator. Moreover, I am a former activist,” he says.

He got involved in politics when studying in medical school. Barring public protests against US attacks in Afghanistan, he is no longer an activist.