Kerala schools ditch backbenches with U-shaped seating; Anand Mahindra says 'will miss backbench' and here's why

In a move that's sparking both curiosity and nostalgia, Kerala schools are set to say goodbye to the age-old tradition of backbenchers. The state is introducing a new U-shaped seating arrangement in classrooms, designed to place teachers at the center—literally and figuratively—ensuring that no student is left behind (or in the back). The idea is to make classrooms more inclusive, eliminating the back rows that often turn into zones of distraction or neglect. But as this model catches the nation’s attention, it has also stirred emotions among those who once proudly wore the “backbencher” badge—most notably, industrialist Anand Mahindra.

The Mahindra Group Chairman took to social media to share his take on the innovative seating layout. Calling it an "intriguing experiment," Mahindra acknowledged its potential to encourage more balanced participation and focused learning. But he also couldn’t hide a tinge of wistfulness as he reminisced about his own love for the back row. In his school days, Mahindra revealed, he gravitated toward the back of the class—sometimes by choice, sometimes not. College gave him the freedom to make the “skydeck” (as it was called in business school) his preferred spot. For him, the backbench was more than a location—it was a mental escape, a place to think deeply, even if not always about the lecture at hand.

What inspired the U-shaped seating?
Kerala’s new U-shaped classroom model, where students sit around the teacher with no designated backbencher, is inspired by the 2024 Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan. The idea was first implemented at Ramavilasam VHSS in Valakom after the film impressed the state transport minister K B Ganesh Kumar. Director Vinesh Viswanath revealed that at least eight schools in Kerala and one in Punjab have since adopted the setup, which promotes inclusivity, echoing the film’s message of bridging classroom divides through semi-circular seating.

Sounds like an intriguing experiment.

It could promote more equitable class participation and focus.

But I have to admit, the ‘backbench’ was my preferred space in school although I wasn’t always allocated that placement.

In college, where there was a choice of seating for… https://t.co/79CAJxunSi

— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 11, 2025

Internet reacts
The internet had mixed reactions to Kerala's decision to do away with backbenches in classrooms. Some users applauded the move, saying it would level the playing field and encourage equal participation, with every student now getting centre stage. Others felt the change could sacrifice the creative freedom and quiet observation often found in the back rows. A few voiced ergonomic concerns, arguing that the U-shaped layout might strain students’ necks. Several users also defended backbenchers, calling them quiet thinkers who often go on to lead from the front in life.