A photograph by Yuri Zhitlukhin I came across while searching for images of Soviet classrooms of the post-Bolshevik Revolution period shows a teacher playing the flute to her students in a kindergarten class. The children in it are sitting in a single U-shaped row.

This type of seating arrangement, however, was not typical in schools in the Soviet Union. Other classroom photos show that the communist Soviets didn't abolish the backbench even in kindergartens and nurseries, which Lenin viewed as 'the sprouts of communism.'

A revolution seems to be occurring in Indian classrooms, inspired by a 2024 Malayalam movie, Sthanarthi Sreekuttan (Candidate Sreekuttan), recently released on a streaming platform. The film, set in a school in UP, questions the divide between front and backbenchers.

The plot centres around Sreekuttan, a backbencher, running against a frontbencher in school elections. He suggests a semicircular seating arrangement to bridge the gap between students. His idea is eventually adopted by the school. Schools in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and West Bengal have adopted a U-shaped seating arrangement, which is regarded as a progressive change.

While backbenchers may be looked down upon in classrooms, in other settings, the situation may be different. Take parliament. Historically, backbenchers there have been crucial in formulating policy. Even in society at large, backbenchers are often perceived as more self-reliant, self-driven, capable of handling failure and setbacks, and able to collaborate well.

Even though these traits might not be universally true, being on the backbench is a significant aspect of being a student. Frontbenchers miss a 180-degree view of the class. Recently, Harsh Goenka shared his backbencher life in the classroom on social media, which he described as ideal for 'sneaking in a nap, doodling, or secretly enjoying a samosa.'

For many students, eliminating the backbench would undoubtedly snatch away some essential charms of school life. It would also deprive many proud frontbenchers of their 'badge of honour', as the idea of front benches in schools would simultaneously be eliminated.

Why are we so eager to eliminate back and front benches in classrooms? Have we truly built a classless society? If not, why rush to give children the illusion that such a utopia exists? Better to let them confront reality from their first day in school.

Benches were first introduced in classrooms around 5th c. BCE in ancient Greece. It became more common in the 19th century, mainly as means to efficiently and affordably accommodate more students. Additionally, they gave teachers room to go around and engage with every student.

It's difficult to predict how teaching will evolve in this AI era. Advocates of U-shaped classroom seating think it fosters a more inclusive learning environment and enhances student-teacher interaction. With each student taking centre stage, it may promote equitable engagement and level the playing field. However, those with a soft spot for backbenchers feel that it may compromise quiet observation and creative flexibility often found in the back rows.

Again, understandably, a larger class cannot be accommodated by such a U-shaped setup. There's apprehension that it could cause eye strain and other problems for pupils who must swivel their heads to look at the blackboard. In society, there's a wide disparity in basic infrastructure - food, healthcare, transportation, and educational environments - among pupils. In an ideal society, we would strive to reduce that gap. But that's a daunting task, indeed. Nevertheless, there's a simpler solution: reorient classroom benches.

Instead, how about a 'recurring' seating arrangement that's kept fluid? My daughter treasured such a creative setup in her school days in Kolkata, where certain teachers would switch students their seating rows every day. The third row moved up to the second position the next day, then to the first, then to the last, and so on. This - or a variation of it - could be a better way to experience life, society, and its inevitable class structure. While also having an equal amount of fun at school.