Changanasherry, Kerala. Controversy has broken out about the expulsion of 5th std. student Tintu Vijayan ( known in the playgrounds as ‘Tintumon’) from Sacred Heart’s Elementary School for writing an old proverb with a twist on the class blackboard. The incident occurred on the morning of 5th April, when Tintu allegedly came to class late. According to school sources, Tintu is often tardy on Monday mornings.
However this time, the class teacher, Mrs. Ammini Abraham took offence to his misdemeanour and set him to work writing the proverb “the early bird got the worm” 10 times on the blackboard in an effort to set an example to the other students and teach them the importance of rising early as well. However at this point, Mrs. Ammini got a phone call and had to step out of the class for a few minutes. On returning to the class she found Tintu standing in front of the blackboard being applauded by his classmates and even exchanging high fives with some of them. The confused Miss. Ammini looked at the blackboard and found written ten times in capital letters “The early worm got eaten”. She also accuses Tintu of having drawn a suggestive cartoon of her in one corner (something that has been denied by Tintu).
The shocked and visibly upset Miss. Ammini stormed to the principal’s office to register a complaint straight away, following which Tintu was expelled. Tintu’s parents has filed a case against the school and also contacted the education minister of the state Mr. M.A Baby who has assured them of launching a full enquiry into the incident. However since the documentary evidence was destroyed when the class leader and Tintu’s close friend Akhil Pradeesh erased the blackboard, the investigation will be difficult, added the minister. Eyewitness accounts are varying from time to time as Tintu’s classmates are telling a different story each time. The school authorities allege that ‘Tintumon’ is a notorious gang-leader in the class and that the students are supporting him either because they are afraid of him, or because they too have been influenced by his rebellious ways.
The school authorities have also come under criticism from various prominent literary figures in society, for suppressing literary talent. Popular author and activist, Prof. Anne Vincent argues that Tintu in fact applied a well known literary practice called deconstruction, in which an old and accepted literary piece is deconstructed and reconstructed in a new light.
Tintu has so far remained silent about the debate on his expulsion. The expulsion has reportedly made Tintu busier than ever, as he has been in the neighbourhood playground playing various games ever since he was expelled. Your correspondent finally tracked Tintu down as he was taking an ice cream break at a nearby shop during a game of cricket. When asked if the motive behind his act was literary deconstruction, or just plain mischief (as alleged by the school), Tintumon shrugged and said, “I don’t like waking up early. Ammini can go to hell.”
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