The teachers, tired of being pushed around by the politicians for years (although in all fairness or irony, many of the current leaders started out as teachers), have united together to demand a better environment for their jobs, including job security, less corporate influence (in case of private schools) and dignity.

Different and insightful perspective there, Echoes. While I think practice of bandh should be limited to only as "last resorts," your views certainly give some of the reasons of the ongoing teachers movement. Your views are above the "popular belief," for you see things above political belief and I appreciate that.