Shailaja Teacher

KK Shailaja is fondly called Shailaja Teacher, as she was a teacher by profession. She was born on 20^th November 1956 in Kannur, Kerala. Her parents are K Kunthan and KK Shantha. Shailaja did her B. Sc. in Physics at Pazhassi Raja NSS College in Mattanur. Then, in 1980 she completed her B. Ed at Visvesvaraya College. She worked as a Physics teacher at Shivapuram High School, Kannur. She retired in 2004 and continued her political career. She belongs to CPI (M). In 2018, she was elected as the Central Committee Member of the party. She had been in various posts at the party and was also an editor of Shrine Mahila Association of Shylaja Mahila Association.

She contested in the state assembly election in 1996 from the Kuthuparamba constituency and won the election. In 2006 and 2016, she contested from the Peravoor constituency. In 2016, after winning the election, she became the Minister of Health, Women and Child Development and Social Justice. She was greatly appreciated by the people and political critics for her efficiency in taking necessary action to control the Nipah virus and Covid19 virus. The Minister made efforts to diagnose the Nipah virus as fast as possible and took essential measures to stop the spread. Impressed by this, a Malayalam movie, “ Virus Embark on a gripping medical journey with Virus, a >> Read More... ,” was made and the character of “ Revathi Karan, an easy-going 25-year-old party animal livi >> Read More... ” resembled that of Shailaja Teacher.

When the coronavirus attacked the entire world, Kerala was one of the most affected states in India. With the efforts of Shailaja Teacher, the state managed to control the virus spread. United Nations invited her to attend the panel discussion on United Nations Public Service Day after seeing her efforts in fighting against Coronavirus. Many magazines and Newspapers lauded the lady for her sincere efforts to save the people. She was addressed as Rockstar Health Minister and Coronavirus Slayer by The Guardian, a popular British daily. BBC News, Vogue, Prospect, a British Magazine, celebrated her for her achievement in controlling the first wave of coronavirus in Kerala. She got a place in the World’s Most Influential Women of 2020.

In 2021, she contested from Mattanur and won the elections with a huge margin of 60963 votes. But, Shailaja Teacher didn’t get a place in the Ministry. However, she said that it was the party that appointed her as the Minister in 2016 and she did her best and is satisfied. She also stated in great hope that the new Ministry would serve better than her.

In 1981, Shailaja married K Bhaskaran and the couple has two sons, Lasith and Shobith. Besides worked as a teacher and a good politician, she is also an avid writer. Shailaja has written a couple of books, Indian Varthamanavum Sthreesamoohavum and China: Rashtram, Rashtreeyam, Kazhchakal.