August 15, 2025

The first years of the 2000s were a landmark era for school education in India. The government launched Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to make elementary education a right for all children. Parliament followed with the Right to Education Act, a big step to change India’s classrooms forever. At the same time, Tamil Nadu played with fresh ideas. They brought Montessori-inspired learning to public schools and introduced Samacheer Kalvi, a bold plan to create equal education standards for every child. It was a buzzing time for education reporters like me. These big moves sparked fiery debates on how to make schools better and fairer. We saw how public schools faced tough challenges and how private schools fought hard to keep things the same. Quick changes without strong plans showed their flaws. And the deep class and caste biases became crystal clear. Every day was a lesson in who really benefits from education reforms. But not everyone immediately saw the full picture. Our group of committed teachers and activists helped light the way. Among them was Prof. V. Vasanthi Devi, a respected former Vice-Chancellor and unshakable activist. She was my guide, explaining complex issues with passion and clarity. Another stalwart was Dr. S.S. Rajagopalan, a veteran headmaster who carried decades of experience. Both looked at education through the lens of social and economic justice. They dug deep to expose inequalities and offered strong, practical solutions. I remember how Prof. Vasanthi Devi studied children’s learning results—it was low across the board. But she showed it wasn’t just kids’ fault. She pointed to poor resources, outdated teaching methods, and tough home conditions. She debunked the myth of "meritocracy," showing how class, caste, gender, and geography hurt many children’s chances. Though my job changed, I stayed connected with these heroes. In 2016, I met Prof. Vasanthi Devi in Chennai during her election campaign with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. She ran for a tough working-class area, knowing she might not win. But she wanted to raise voters’ voices about their struggles. When I asked her about her politics, she said, "Politicisation is such an important part of education." Prof. Vasanthi Devi’s work always circled back to one big idea: education is the key to critical thinking and real change. She lived her life fighting for that bold vision. Her legacy inspires India’s education fight even today.

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Tags: Prof. v. vasanthi devi, Education activism, Right to education act, Sarva shiksha abhiyan, Tamil nadu education, Social justice,