Superstar Rajinikanth recently started a new innings by announcing the start of his political career. Simultaneously, another aspect of his life has entered a new phase: the school where he studied.
After years of neglect and delayed works, the Government Model Primary School in Gavipuram, popularly known as ‘Rajnikanth’s school’, will be formally inaugurated on Saturday.
The school, which was established in 1943, was in a dilapidated condition. The State government decided to bring down the old building and construct a new one. In 2008, the then chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had sanctioned ₹81.4 lakh for the same. However, work on the new building did not begin until 2012.
The school was temporarily shifted to a building owned by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), near Kempambudhi Lake.
The new school building has been developed at a cost of ₹1.5 crore. While the local MLA Ravi Subramanya has contributed ₹20 lakh from his funds, Bengaluru South MP and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers H.N. Ananth Kumar gave ₹25 lakh.
“When the school shifted out of here, the student strength dropped,” said B.K. Uma, a teacher at the school.
Happy with the upgrade, teachers at the school, where Shivajirao Gaekwad, better known as Rajinikanth, once studied, hope that this will translate into more enrolments. “The school once had around 400 children. Now, the number stands at 91,” she said, adding that children from three slums in the locality study in the school.
Though the construction was far from complete, the school was moved back to the new building last academic year. “When we came back here, the number of enrolments increased by 30. With better amenities, such as a library, computer lab and play equipment, we hope that the number of enrolments will increase further the next academic year,” said Nanje Gowda, PT teacher at the school.
Actor invited for inauguration
Rajni Murugan from the Karnataka Rajniji Seva Samithi told The Hindu that the actor had been invited to the school inauguration. “We met him in November last in Chennai. We showed him photos of the new building and even gave him a letter from Mr. Subramanya inviting him to the inauguration. However, he said he would not be able to make it due to his political commitments,” he said.
He also said that Rajnikanth was impressed with the work. “In fact, he visited the school around three months ago before heading to Mantralaya,” he added.
