Assistant professor turns barber in evening

Kochi: Assistant Professor Jettish finds solace in both teaching his students in college and trimming the hair of the customers at his barbershop. His research fellowship and doctorate did not stop him from doing what he loves. “ I will keep on doing this job till death,” said Jettish. 

Dr Jettish Sivadas is an Assistant Professor at the Malayalam department of Kuriakose College of Management and Science in Perumbavoor. After college time, he heads to his barbershop at a rented room in Cherukunnam to take up the next role of life. His only employee, a migrant labourer will open the shop at 9 am and manage the customers. The duty time of Jettish will start from 4 pm to 9 pm. 

Jettish, who had been brought up in a village Manikandanchal at a hill range near the forest region, assisted his father in palm leaf weaving and cutting hair from a very young age. He had to cover 10 kilometres on foot to reach the school and due to a severe illness, he took a break of two years while studying in the ninth standard. After completing tenth, he pursued BA History and MA Malayalam through distance education. Thus, Jettish became a  professor without studying in any college. 

After graduation, he studied an electronics course and started an electronics shop near the barbershop. It was after his marriage, Jettish joined for post-graduation and later secured NET, JRF and doctorate. He had also proved his expertise in poetry and songwriting. His wife Baby is a teacher at Govt UP School in Asamannoor. His daughters Meenakshi and Malavika are studying in ninth and first standards respectively.