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Inspired by Vinesh Viswanath’s 2024 directorial debut, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan’s climax, several schools across the state of Kerala, are adopting a new seating arrangement that makes backbencher association redundant. The new arrangement is a U or a semi-circular seating with the teacher addressing the middle of the class. This enables the teacher to focus on all students at once with no pupil lurking behind the backbenches, either creating a nuisance or missing out on lessons.
Meanwhile, Vinesh shared a few glimpses of a school from Palakkad practicing the ‘no backbench’ seating inspired by his movie. He stated that this was the fifth school in the state that he got to know that had changed the benching system.
No more front row, no more back row, just equal space to learn and grow! 📚✨
Kerala schools are reshaping classrooms to ensure every student gets the spotlight they deserve. A move towards equality, interaction and better learning!#NoBackbenchers #KeralaEducation… pic.twitter.com/mtoQjwvMnF
— The CSR Journal (@thecsrjournal) July 11, 2025
Vinesh Viswanath got to know that schools are adopting the seating arrangement suggested by his movie when schools started clicking photos of the new arrangement and tagged his Instagram account.https://t.co/V4pWyhsilX
— Times Now Education (@TimesNowCareers) July 10, 2025
Reactions varied on social media but were largely welcoming. Industrialist Harsh Goenka jibed, “Thank goodness I didn’t go to school in Kerala—they’ve abolished backbenchers! That was my permanent seat. Where would I have hidden my quick nap, my doodles, my secret samosa?” Another quipped, “Big blow for students who eat tiffin on the last bench.”
A third user wrote in jest, “But how will they manage to eat from a tiffin box in the middle of the classroom? They’ll probably miss core memories to remember later.” Basically, “ab chhup ke samosa kaise khayenge?”
One user reminded netizens of the former president and the missile man of India’s quote, “The best brains of the nation may be found on the last benches of the classroom—APJ Abdul Kalam.”
Another account suggested, “This is what they are trying to do without the budget. This will make the use of a blackboard difficult. The most suitable way of seating is a semicircle where everyone looks straight at the board; also, the seats ascend as one moves back.”
Thank goodness I didn’t go to school in Kerala- they’ve abolished backbenchers! That was my permanent seat.
Where would I have hidden my quick nap, my doodles, my secret samosa? pic.twitter.com/IhLqkz55Q2
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) July 11, 2025
Big blow for students who eat tiffin on the last bench.
— Aaraynsh (@aaraynsh) July 10, 2025
Khatam TATA bye bye pic.twitter.com/02XfhUXZez
— BunkMate (@MateBunk) July 10, 2025
This is what they are trying to do without the budget. This will make the use of a blackboard difficulty. The most suitable way of seating is a semicircle where everyone looks straight at the board, also the seats ascend as one moves back. pic.twitter.com/hQVFkVeryu
— The Open Film School Foundation (@Studiotofs) July 11, 2025
But how will they manage to eat from a tiffin box in the middle of the classroom? They’ll probably miss core memories to remember later. 😂
— Mahima Jalan ماهيما جالان (@MahimaJalan2) July 10, 2025
Meanwhile, there’s always one guy bickering (or maybe more)
Backbenchers face extinction? Sanjeev Sanyal criticises Kerala’s new semi-circular class layout https://t.co/4uH7q2av3t
— Business Today (@business_today) July 11, 2025
This seems like a misguided decision, this could lead to neck strain due to constant head movement. A more effective approach would be a rotational seating system, where students alternate between front and back benches periodically, ensuring equal opportunities and reducing…
— Tamil Voicer (@TamilVoicer) July 10, 2025
