In Karnataka, teachers worship MLA’s photo

A video clip of a teacher couple prostrating before Ron MLA Kalakappa Bandi’s photo in Gadag district has gone viral on social media. The couple pray for his success and keep his photo along with those of gods in their puja room at home.
Ramanagouda Patil, a teacher at the Government Kannada Boys Higher Primary School in Abbigeri, and his wife Prabhavati, a teacher at the Government Kannada Girls Higher Primary School in neighbouring Jakkali village are seen prostrating to Bandi’s photo in the video.
Ravindranath Doddameti, a social worker in Jakkali village, said the couple may have done it to express their gratitude to the MLA.
“There’s nothing wrong in government servants thanking politicians. But there’s a political intention, it’s wrong,” he added.
Dr RK Gachhinamath, vice-president, Senior Citizens Association, Naregal, said it’s their personal matter. “As they haven’t done it in school hours or in front of students, there’s nothing wrong,” he said.
A teacher in Nidagundi cluster, where Patil was the resource person earlier, said he’s publicity hungry. “He offered Rs 10,000 as donation to an association in Ron on the condition that he would be felicitated by the then MLA G S Patil. Now, he might have done it to appease the sitting MLA. It’s shameful,” he said.
Ganesh Singh Byali, who runs an educational institution in Gadag-Betrgeri, said puja and prostration are normally offered to deities. “They could have expressed their gratitude to the MLA by felicitating him. If teachers appease politicians like this, how can we expect them to work in an impartial manner?” he said.
TOI tried to contact both the teachers but their cellphones were switched off.