We are at the mathematics department at the Government Arts College, watching as new equations emerge. Not mathematical ones, but social ones. Thirty-odd students from various disciplines sit cross-legged on the floor listening intently to the speaker, who is telling them about ‘assertive communication’.
The lecture is a part of an initiative by Dr. P. Suguna of the mathematics department who realised that soft-skill training would provide the much needed leg-up to some students of the college. “A lot of them come from economically and socially deprived communities, and they want to improve their lives. I remember wondering why so many of my students came to class distracted, tired and sleepy, even in the first period. They told me it was because they did not get enough rest. They worked jobs that kept them up late. After college, these kids go out to make a living. Some of them are the only breadwinners of their family. They wait at tables, give tuitions, are watchmen and shop assistants. Then, they have problems at home — alcoholism, abuse, poverty and ill health.” Suguna says it is easy for people to say: ‘Read newspapers every day, you will improve your communication skills’. “They do not have the couple of rupees required to buy that newspaper, and if they did, they would rather buy a banana and eat that.”
Suguna decided to help them get a foothold in life. She was inspired by her mentor, the late L.G. Varadaraj. “He instituted a creative teaching course. He always said that teachers should make a difference and think beyond classrooms and textbooks. He is the reason I started this programme,” she says.
Students learn about communication, creativity, counselling and value education. The classes are free. They are held year-long and there are also shorter capsules. Suguna is justifiably proud of these young men and women. “Some from the earlier batches are placed in companies such as TCS, WIPRO and Ford. Some have enrolled for further studies. One of them, Pradeepa, an IAS aspirant, is now a Junior Assistant in the School Education department. They have a goal now. They feel transformed,” says Suguna.
Wing Commander (Retired) Sivakumar, who has interacted with these students, lauds the programme. “The attempt is to make them job-worthy. Some of them are diffident. It is important to develop their communication skills; teach them how to conduct themselves in an interview; make them aware of their body language…”
He feels that with a little more structure and streamlining, the impact will be much more.
Dr. Srividya, who also works with these students, says it is an admirable venture. “Being a teacher myself, more than the students, it is the effort of the teacher that I admire. Here she is taking initiative, rallying students, staff and friends and doing what a teacher should do — inspire. As for the students, more than the benefits of communication and job skills, it is knowing that a person genuinely cares for them and is willing to go the extra mile for them, is what gives them the impetus to be better people.”
Suguna invites people from across professions to mingle with her students. They include, Dr. Balamurali from Ganga Hospital, Dr. Gururajan, retired IIT professor; Bhuma Varadarajan, director, Fiducial Solutions, Dr. Uma Devi who teaches MBA at Bharathiar University and Dr. P.E. Thomas of the department of Communication and Media Studies, also from Bharathiar University.
Suguna says that apart from these generous people, many of her own colleagues at Government Arts College have given her unstinting support. “I am grateful to our Principal Dr. R. Kumaresan for his encouragement. Without all these people, the course would have got nowhere.” Suguna is very, very proud of another fact. These students are already paying it forward as they go to an under-resourced school near Tirupur and teach the underprivileged children there.
An appeal
Suguna says: We provide Soft Skills Training to only 100 students or so. My dream is to train all the 1500 students in the campus every year so that they are employable once they leave college. But we need more trainers to volunteer their time. Students from BPL families study here. Their fee is Rs. 500 per semester. Even this is sometimes beyond their means. They will be grateful for any help they can get. To know more mail to sugunadevadas@yahoo.com
Responses
I know I am capable of a lot. It has lit a fire in my belly.
K. Balaji
It has helped me answer the question “Who am I”.
S. Divya Bharathi
I overcame a severe fear of speaking in public.
M. Diwakaran
I’ve learnt to take others along with me on my journey.
Kavya
