'I too was a victim of corporal punishment'

Blast from the past

“Do not instill fear in the young minds by punishing them,” he said while inaugurating the taluk-level Teachers’ Day celebrations in the city.

“I was subjected to corporal punishment while in school. Our teacher would beat us with a ruler and pinch us in the thigh. These were sufficient reasons for me to skip the classes,” he said.

 He also recalled how one of the teachers thrashed him even in tuitions. Siddaramaiah, who had put in his papers after the party suffered a set back in Kadur by-elections, was animated throughout the function. He also recounted how one of his teachers Rajappa had given him a direct admission to fifth standard, though he had not studied from the first to fourth standard. He had even tried his luck as a lecturer by taking up a part-time job at a law college for three years between 1980 and 83. However, after the stint as a lecturer he decided to take a plunge into politics.

He mentioned that incumbent taluk BEO Kantharaj was one of his students and one of the reasons why he decided to attend the function.

“I may have enjoyed power as a minister and also as the deputy chief minister of the State, but I hold the days of my lectureship closest to my heart, as it provided me with immense satisfaction,” recounted Siddaramaiah.

Pointing out that majority of the rural students found both English and Mathematics tough,  Siddaramaiah said he was a topped in all subjects, except English, upto SSLC.