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A video from a school in Bandadka, Kasaragod, showing students performing ‘Guru Pada Pooja’, a ritual involving the offering of flowers and washing the feet of elders, has gone viral, sparking public outrage and political condemnation. The ceremony, held as part of Guru Poornima celebrations at multiple private schools affiliated with Bharatheeya Vidya Niketan (BVN), has been widely criticized as regressive and casteist.
Following public backlash, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty on Saturday ordered an inquiry into the incident. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has also registered a suo motu case.
The Minister instructed the Director of General Education to seek clarifications from Saraswathy Vidyalaya in Bandadka, Kasaragod, and Vivekananda Vidya Peedom in Mavelikkara after reports emerged that students were made to wash the feet of retired teachers as a sign of respect. Similar incidents allegedly took place at other private schools, including Sree Chakrapani Vidya Mandiram in Trikaripur, Harisree Vidyalayam in Kundamkuzhy, and Vivekananda Vidya Mandiram in Cheemeni, all in Kasaragod district.
All these schools are affiliated with Bharatheeya Vidya Niketan (BVN), a society registered in Kerala to promote the educational vision of Vidya Bharati (Vidya Bharati Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Sansthan), the educational wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The controversy gained traction after a video from the Bandadka school went viral, showing students performing ‘Guru Pada Pooja’—a ritual involving the offering of flowers at the feet of guests.
The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) strongly condemned the practice. The DYFI alleged that hundreds of teachers’ feet were washed by students at the Cheemeni school. “Though these brahmanical rituals were conducted in RSS-backed schools, it is a matter of shame for our state,” the DYFI said in a statement.
The SFI also claimed that Vivekananda Vidya Peedom in Attuva, Alappuzha district, made students wash the feet of a BJP leader. The SFI state committee submitted formal complaints to Education Minister Sivankutty and the KSCPCR.
Following the complaints, the KSCPCR registered a case. “We noticed similar practices taking place in other institutions after receiving the initial complaint about Saraswathy Vidyalaya, Bandadka. The Commission has asked the State Police to submit a report,” said Mohanakumar B., KSCPCR member in charge of Kasaragod district, to TNM.
PT Uma, headmistress of the Bandadka school, told TNM that the ritual was part of long-standing ‘Vyasa Jayanthi’ celebrations. “The feet of the honourable invitees were washed by teachers themselves. Students only offered flowers at their feet. Our children received blessings from the guests through these acts,” she said.
Uma added that students are encouraged to touch their parents’ feet every morning, and she believes the absence of such practices in students’ lives leads to drug use and unethical behaviour.
A promotional social media post dated July 9 described the event as a traditional Indian practice of honouring teachers on the birthday of Vyasa.
“The incident demands strong condemnation and legal action, as it reflects an attempt to impose the RSS-backed Chaturvarnya system in Kerala,” said SFI state president M Sivaprasad.
Meanwhile, Rajeevan, an official from the Vidyalaya Samithi, a committee of teachers and parents at Vivekananda School in Cheemeni, defended the ritual, calling it part of the age-old and divine Sanatana Dharma. He told TNM that any opposition to the practice would be “unitedly resisted.”