Kukkikatte Aided Private Higher Primary School in Udupi that is staying afloat with help from alumni, donors. UDUPI: At times when concerns are expressed about closure of Kannada medium schools in the state, a gritty teacher has taken it on herself to keep afloat the fortunes of Kukkikatte Aided Private Higher Primary School. Having superannuated from services in July last, Vidyarathna Anappa has made it an almost life’s mission to ensure that the school that is home to 80-odd students continues to be abode of learning and does not close down any time soon. With aid not forthcoming from the government, Vidyarathna who retired as head teacher after 40-years of service, dipped into her salary in the last decade to pay the six guest teachers and kept the show running. Such was the passion to see her alma mater afloat, that she sometimes turned to Annappa, her husband, retired deputy tahsildar to meet her financial commitments. Her three children too are alumni of the school founded in 1940.