From orphanage to professor: Kerala teacher Vijayakumar’s inspiring academic journey

Palakkad, Kerala: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” The famous words of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho resonate deeply with the life of Vijayakumar, a Malayalam teacher at Government Victoria College.

A native of Kottayam, Vijayakumar often says his life was shaped by the compassion of people who supported him during the most difficult years of his childhood. When he joined the Malayalam department at the government college at the age of 29, he carried with him not memories of hardship but a message of confidence and resilience for his students.

Vijayakumar was the youngest of four children. He was only three years old when his parents separated, leaving the children without stable support. Until the age of eight, he lived intermittently with his father's mother, but after her death, his circumstances became uncertain.

For a brief period, he stayed with a relative on his father’s side. Eventually, he and his elder brother were admitted to Bethlahem Bala Bhavan, an orphanage in Kottayam that would become his home for the next several years. His two sisters were placed in another orphanage in Kottayam.

Despite scoring well in science in plus two, Vijayakumar chose to pursue literature, enrolling in a BA in Malayalam at St Thomas College, Pala. His decision reflected his growing interest in language and culture.

Also read| NGT pulls up Kerala over extending life of govt vehicles, KSRTC buses

He graduated with second rank, marking the first major academic milestone in his life. Around this time, his mother returned, reconnecting with the family after years of separation.

After spending nearly 13 years at Bala Bhavan, Vijayakumar left the institution at the age of 20 and began living with his family again.

He continued his studies by enrolling in an MA in Malayalam at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady. During this period, he received a Higher Education Council scholarship, which helped him continue his academic journey.

Vijayakumar cleared the UGC NET examination on his first attempt and later qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF). He went on to complete his MPhil with first rank at the University of Kerala, Karyavattom campus, before earning a PhD specialising in Malayalam grammar.

Vijayakumar also cleared the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) examination for the post of Assistant Professor in his first attempt. His first appointment as a teacher was at Government Victoria College in Palakkad, one of Kerala’s historic higher education institutions.

After reaching his goal, Vijayakumar shared a note on social media reflecting on his journey.

“This success came from studying in the most ordinary government institutions in the country, without any social, economic, political or family influence,” he wrote.

The message, he said, was meant to encourage young people who feel discouraged by small setbacks.