Rajith Kumar

Rajith Kumar hails from Kizhuvilam, Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. His father died before he was born, his mother was a last grade government employee in the health department. He had his schooling from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Attingal. Rajith was adjudged Best Student while studying at Mar Ivanios College in Thiruvananthapuram, from where he graduated with a bachelor's degree (BSc) in botany and had his master's degree (MSc) from N. S. S. College, Pandalam with first rank.[1] He then took a Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) in cytogenetics and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in microbiology (passed with gold medal[2]). He also went on to take a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree in natural science, a bachelor's degree in library and information science (BLIS), a master's degree (M.S) in psychotherapy, and a diploma in Vedanta.[3][4] He has also passed the UGC NET examination.[2]

In 1996, he joined as a lecturer in Botany department at Sree Sankara College, Kalady and continued there until 2003. Since his mother refused to leave his hometown Attingal to stay with him, he took a transfer to Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Attingal (where he studied) as a teacher. But later he was transferred back to Sree Sankara College and visited mother at weekends. In 2009, the Thiruvananthapuram district panchayat nominated and selected him as a member of its Working Group. In September 2009, the Chirayinkeezhu panchayat and Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority honoured him with Samoohya Saksharatha Prathibha award.[1] He convened "Keralagramam", an Indian Science Congress Association programme held in Thiruvananthapuram in 2010.[2]

Rajith is an active humanitarian worker, he founded the Dr. Rajith Charitable Services and is a life-member of Indian Red Cross Society. From 2000s, he has been offering free coaching classes, counselling sessions, uniforms, textbooks, medicine, food among other things to economically backward students, funded from his own salary. By 2009, number of such students he gave assistance surpassed 25,000. Rajith has taken part in training programmes conducted by NCERT and SCERT in adolescent education.[2] He is also known for his public awareness speeches. He has authored more than ten books in Malayalam, related to religion and personal motivation.

He appeared in the children's feature film Manalchithrangal (2015). In 2018, he appeared in the short film Daivathinte Naadu, and in a music video, Amma, in the following year. In 2020, he entered the Bigg Boss house as a contestant in the reality television show Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 2) on Asianet.[5] When he was ousted from the show, his supporters organized a public gathering to welcome him at Cochin International Airport. The gathering was organized despite the government's cautionary measures against the coronavirus pandemic. Rajith and 79 other people involved in the gathering were booked by the police for flouting government advisory.[6][7] He was released on bail after questioning.[8]

He is now an actor. He is currently playing the role of Alexey and Fernandez hosted by Asianet in the show Life is Beautiful (Season-2)

In 2013, while speaking at Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram at the "moral education" campaign organised by the Department of General and Higher Education, he criticised women's current dressing style. It received media attention after a student protested by booing and boycotting the speech. Shobhana George complained against his statement in the Kerala State Human Rights Commission which asked the Collegiate Education Department to enquire into the matter. Deputy Director Girija Devi who conducted the enquiry reported that Kumar's speech was "a piece of art and the opposition by a graduate student to the speech was an immature response".[9]

In 2018, in a counselling session held in Kasaragod he reportedly made the unscientific and misogynistic statement that women who wear jeans can give birth to transgender children and the children born to rebel men and women is found to be autistic, claiming to have scientific backing. He received rebuke, and it was pointed out in media that it was ill-informed, unscientific, and offensive. Kumar defended it saying that there are efforts to put him in bad light and only a certain portion from his 4-hour long speech was taken and is used to create misunderstanding among people. He reiterated and defended his statements again in the show Njangalkum Parayanund in Mathrubhumi News.[10][11] Following that, health minister K. K. Shailaja released a press note barring Kumar from speaking in government programmes, citing that he spreads superstition and social discord.[12] Although his statements has received criticism, he has also found support from a section of public.[13] Following the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Kerala, he said that he had a 'pure heart' and therefore he cannot be infected with coronavirus.[14]

In 2020, Rajith Kumar took part in a TV show by name Big Boss. He was ousted from the show after he rubbed chilli paste on fellow contestant Reshma Nair's eye on camera. Reshma later revealed that she will file a police complaint against Rajith Kumar. Rajith Kumar claimed that he did not hurt her.[15][16] Reshma claimed that she suffered corneal injury in one eye and her eyesight suffered.[17] Rajith Kumar claimed that he will file case against those who spread falshoods against him.[18]

• Thiricharivu: The Power of Discrimination[19]
• Enne Vismayipicha Quran Sookthangal[20]
• Srimad Bhagavad Gita Sandhesham
• Ennil Karunaniracha Bible[21]
• Unaru Unaru[22]
• Jeevitha Vijayathileku 22 Padikal: Steps to Success[23]
• Gita Mahathvam: Bhagavat Gitayile Shasthra Sathyangal[24]
• Ramayanam[25]
• Enne Njaniyakkunna Bhagavat Gita[26]
• Shri Mahabhagavata Rahasyam[27]
• Mahabharatacharitham: Ithihasa Rahasyangal[28]

• 2009: Samoohya Saksharatha Prathibha from Chirayinkeezhu panchayat and Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority.[1]
• 2010: Rashtra Sevana Prathibha Puraskar from Global Confederation of Pravasee Malayalees[31]
• 2017: Dr. Ambedkar Excellency Service National Award from Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi[32]
• 2017: Samoohya Sevana Rathnam from Kerala Urban Development Council[33]
• 2018: Gem of Kerala (Keralaratnam) from Global Confederation of Pravasee Malayalees[34]
• 2018: Gurushreshta Puraskaram from Vanitha Congress (M)[35]
• 2019: Shri. Vedavyasa Puraskaram from Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Akademi[36]

• Dr.Rajith Kumar on YouTube
• Rajith Kumar on Facebook