Motivational speaker Maha Vishnu faced backlash for making controversial remarks about rebirth and karma during speeches at two government schools in Chennai on Teachers' Day. His comments, which suggested that disabilities and life struggles were due to misdeeds in past lives, led to public outrage and protests from organizations like DYFI and SFI. A differently-abled teacher who challenged Maha Vishnu's statements was insulted, prompting Tamil Nadu's School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi to promise legal action against the speaker and those who organized the event. The principals of the involved schools have been asked to explain why such programs were conducted without approval. The incident has sparked a broader debate on the role of spirituality and superstition in educational settings, with political implications as well.