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Shri Eswaran - A Force for Quality Education and Teachers

Birth and Early Career

The unique journey of Shri S. Eswaran started at the southernmost tip of India. Subramanian Eswaran was born in Thirupunalvaasal and growing up around Ramanathapuram, Pudukkottai, and Trichy districts, he completed his school education with excellence and went into the teaching profession. Shri. Eswaran, as a teacher and a headmaster of rural schools in Ramanathapuram district, always worked with the local communities and understood the needs and cultural sensitivities of a multicultural society like no other in his times. His exceptional personality of bringing people together, perseverance and visionary leadership made empowerment through education in local communities. To achieve the literacy goals of vastly deprived rural areas, he firmly believed in cohesive community efforts that focused on improving.

  • The quality of teaching,
  • The quality of the life of teachers, and
  • Fit-for-purpose schools and infrastructures.

This mission he undertook in post-independent India in the 1950s began in rural areas of his native state of Tamil Nadu in India. After completing his teacher training in 1961, he joined the Tamil Nadu Elementary School Teachers Federation (TESTF).

Starting Federation work

He worked closely with none other than Shri Master Ramunni, who was the founder of the state primary teachers’ federation. He was soon elected as a block secretary of Mandapam in Ramanathapuram District, Tami Nadu. He was working with vigour and unwavering commitment to improving teachers’ rights, their professional development, and adaptability to primary education delivery and enhancement at the regional level until 1975.

State Leadership and TESTF

In 1975, Shri Eswaran was selected as the Tamil Nadu state secretary of TESTF. He was repeatedly re-elected and held office in the organisation for the next 22 years. Throughout this time, he worked shoulder to shoulder with Shri J.S. Raju, the president of the Tamil Nadu Federation. During these two decades, they co-led several focused TESTF movements, negotiations, and conferences that improved the quality of life of the state teachers and primary education to tremendous success. While he was state secretary, he understood the national needs in primary education, challenges faced by primary teachers, and children’s futures.