The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Imparting the art of abbreviated writing

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Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Imparting the art of abbreviated writing

Mohamed Imranullah S.

— Photo: A. Shaikmohideen

Increasing hands: T. Mony conducting shorthand classes at his institute in Sankarankovil.

MADURAI: T. Mony (62), a retired Government servant-turned-shorthand teacher from Sankarankovil in Tirunelveli district, is a proud man. He has created a record of sorts with 91 of his students clearing the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission examinations held recently for 507 stenographers’ vacancies.

“It is not a mean achievement for one training institute in the State to have bagged 18 per cent of the total posts. My students will now join the judiciary, police, revenue and many other departments. I consider it to be a milestone in my endeavour to pass on my knowledge to as many youngsters as possible,” Mr. Mony says.

Gone are the days when teenagers considered learning the technique of squeezing their long hand short as an essential part of their studies and the days when stenography institutes in every nook and corner bustled with activity. Shorthand is nearing oblivion and requires immediate attention, he asserts.

Claiming that committed shorthand teachers and training institutes are few and far between, he says it has resulted in erosion of the penchant among students to learn the art. Even journalists are able to manage without it, thanks to increased use of audio recording equipment and computers.

He believes that recording gadgets could never equal the mastery over the art of abbreviated and symbolic writing. Learning the technique will be as beneficial to a top level officer in discharging his official duty, as it is to his personal secretary.

But the irony is that shorthand itself is now short of hands.

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