Actress Gouri Kishan recently took to her social media page to talk about her schooling days. In a shocking revelation, Gouri mentioned how she had to face casteism, body shaming, slut-shaming and bullying when she was studying in Hindu Senior Secondary School, Adyar.
Gouri said that she does not wish to take names of the teachers who caused emotional trauma. She also wished to see a serious change in the way a school functions.
She wrote, "Revisiting memories are thought to be nostalgic, but not so much when it's about childhood trauma. In the formative years that we spend in school, it pains me to think of the number of students like myself who have been put through so much agony! Schools are supposed to be a nurturing ground for a student, not a place you fear of being labelled and branded for your worth.
"In light of the recent expose on PSBB for harassment and misconduct, I'd like to put forward that my schooling in Hindu Senior Secondary, Adyar was hugely problematic too! After speaking to several of my schoolmates about the same, we've all come to a collective realisation that there was a great deal of ingrained normalising that had taken place in the school environment.
"Slut shaming, Casteism, Bullying, Body Shaming, Character Assasination, Objectification, baseless accusations thrown at students, consequentially having a profound impact on a child's self-esteem. Most of us from HSSS, myself included, have faced all of the above, first hand.
"I don't wish to take names of teachers who caused the emotional mayhem, but it certainly does not discount the fact that I wish to see a serious shift in culture. The environment in school was toxic as hell, and my heart goes out to each and every person who faced similar trauma - hearing personal accounts of PSBB, CV, has been distressing, to say the least.
"Honestly, at this point, I'm genuinely shocked that in spite of the messed up schooling, many of turned out quite alright but childhood trauma (especially unresolved ones) run deep, and is proven psychologically that it is the reason behind several issues we face in adulthood too.
"Having recalled this unpleasantness has been traumatic but a huge burden off my chest. Now I wish, more of you come out with your personal accounts in order to take this up with the school administration formally, so that we can at least hope that the forthcoming batches don't face similar abuse!
"I hope this gains more traction so that we don't stand witness to another generation of students growing up in toxic school environments. Do use the hashtag and share your personal experiences, your identity will remain anonymous! This ingrained conditioning and normalising has to STOP now! (sic)," she concluded.
Gouri's statement comes after current and former students of a popular school in Chennai exposed a Commerce teacher and accused him of sexual harassment. This had prompted many students from other schools calling out teachers and institutions for not dealing with sexual allegations, casteism and other pressing issues.
On workfront, gouri was last seen in Malayalam movie Anugraheethan Antony which hit the screens in April.
