Category Archives: Education

Visually impaired strike a chord, win hearts

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

Chennai :

These aspiring singers required no accomplices, not a single musical instrument. Their sole voices would do the job for them once they were handheld and aided to climb the stage. For, they were all visually impaired.

More than 100 students from- Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh endeavoured to hit all the high and low notes at the South Indian Singing Festival 2015 organised by the NGO, Nethrodaya. And it was 20- year- old Bhagyamma a student from Bangalore who was adjudged the best among them for her rendition of a Carnatic based Kannada cinema song and won Rs 50,000 in cash. The second and third winners were both from Chennai. “I don’t know what raaga I sang in, I’m not trained in music, but I have the gift of singing which I don’t want to waste,” says Bhagyamma, a BA History student from Bharat Education Society, Bangalore who has been visually impaired since she was born.

But the man who was placed after her in the third position is Gokula Krishna who has been training in Carnatic music since he was 6. This final year B Com student from Loyola College sang a medley of the popular Rajinikanth song raagangal pathinaru and the recent aanandha yaazhai. Krishna, 20 is also part of Loyola’s light music team. “Parents forced me into learning classical music but I began liking it,” laughs Krishna who now says he wants to make it as a professional singer. Krishna has a condition of low vision but like Bhagyamma he says they are not stumbled by difficulties. “No one deliberately isolates you, if you can mingle with a normal crows, it’s just fine. Fortunately my peers who have vision are friendly and cooperative,” Krishna says.

Six playback singers from Tamil cinema were the panellists who marked them on par with any other singing competition. Social Welfare minister B Valarmathi gave away the prizes. “The purpose was to provide entertainment and competitions for the visually impaired and to make an impact that they are on par with sighted singers,” says Nethrodaya founder C Govindakrishnan known as Gopi to Chennaiites. “The fighting spirit among is prevalent but they have no platform to showcase their talents. This is why we increased the price money to encourage the student community. It is a hope that now other clubs and organisations too will host competitions and fests for them.”

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Divya Chandrababu, TNN / February 22nd, 2015

YMCA Madras celebrates 125 years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Sports

For many people, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Madras is a body working for the health and fitness of youngsters.

Celebrating its 125th year of inception, YMCA Madras, along with the National Council of YMCA, has now diversified into various activities.

Lauding the contributions of YMCA Madras, established in 1890 by David McConnaughy, Governor K. Rosaiah, at a function on Friday, traced the history of the organisation that is present in over 120 countries.

Giving away lifetime achievement awards, the Governor said such voluntary organisations must play a significant role in building a harmonious society and serve as an inspiration to others.

Rolland Williams, president of the National Council of YMCAs of India, spoke on the growth of the organisation that has over three lakh members across the country. Peter Posner, president of World Alliance of YMCAs, Aerial Pollack, public affairs officer, US Consulate Chennai, and M.M. Selvakumar, president of YMCA Madras, also spoke.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu /  Home> News> Cities> Chennai/ by Special Correspondent / Chennai – February 21st, 2015

Indian Architecture through the Ages

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
Pic: D Sampath Kumar
Pic: D Sampath Kumar

Chennai :

Indian architecture has always been an expression of cultural traditions and a synthesis of outside cultures that had influenced it.

Through vivid photographs and sketches, the exhibition ‘Splendours of Indian Architecture’ being held by Indian National Trust for Art, Heritage and Culture (INTACH) and the MEASI Academy of Architecture, takes one through some of the well known architectural splendours like the Gol Gumbaz and the Ajantha and Ellora cave temples, along with some of the lesser known, but fascinating structures like the Rani ki Vav at Patan and the ruins at Mandu.

The exhibition has been curated by Sarayu Doshi, a scholar in Indian classical and contemporary art.

With the Indus Valley civilisation site at Lothal, the journey of Indian architecture began as early as around 2400 BC. With the Mughal Period came the Islamic influences, and later the spice route, followed by the British’s colonial style.

The ‘Charbagh’ style Mughal gardens, the ghats of Varanasi,  the motifs at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus at Mumbai and the Italian design of the Falaknuma Palace at Hyderabad depict the diversity of styles in the country, through the exhibition panels.

The exhibition was launched by Sarayu Doshi and cinematographer Rajiv Menon, who has supported INTACH in several projects.

The display is on at the exhibition hall of the MEASI Academy of Architecture, Royapettah until February 24.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 21st, 2015

Chettinad Student Wins Debate on Skilling

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Chennai :

The student debate on ‘Skill building is the raison d’etre of education’ at the ThinkEdu15 Conclave here raised some important points on whether it was skill or subject knowledge that was important for survival.

The debaters pointed out that skill building and education move in a parallel direction towards molding an individual.

While Ayush Bhargava from IIT Madras stated that education was a common platform to inculcate labour skills, soft skills and life skills, talking for the topic, Apoorva Ramachandran from Stella Maris College, Chennai, argued that skill could only be acquired with proper knowledge and practice over time.

“Education should impart wisdom, ethics and morals. Gaining skills has nothing to do with education, it is a check box while gaining knowledge,” said Amit Antony, an Electronics and Communication student of Vellore Institute of Technology-Chennai campus.

Manaswini Prasanna, a psychology student of Women’s Christian College, who spoke for the topic, pointed out that education should help develop social, personal, soft and interpersonal skills.

The winner of the debate, Ujjwala Varma, a student of Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, who spoke against the topic, said, “Skill development is not imparting of information, but is an off-shoot of academic knowledge.” Ayush and Apoorva were declared the runners-up.

The platform was set and the debate points were in place, but this did not stop students from making their rebuttal strong. Though there were heated arguments on both sides, it can be said that education is a lifelong process. It is dynamic and provides growth, and skill building is equally important for character building.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / February 22nd, 2015

Alumni of Coimbatore college back on campus after 17 years

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Coimbatore :

The 1994-97 batch of the PSG College of Arts and Science PSGCAS on Sunday met for the first time since they completed graduation in 1997. Over 600 students from across the globe participated in Casoria, the reunion meet.

The students who completed their undergraduate courses in 1997 were invited for the reunion on Sunday. Kanda Subramaniam S, a professor of the Tamil Department at the PSG College of Arts and Science and an alumnus of the 1997 batch said, “While alumni from places in and around Coimbatore were the majority, there were people from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. Alumni from the US, UK and Sri Lanka also made it.”

The alumni, along with their families decided to meet on the second Sunday of February every year. The reunion at PSGCAS had the alumni electing one coordinator for each department, to manage communications and coordinate social activities, Subrmaniam said.

The alumni members also had an opportunity to meet the faculty members who had taught them at college, most of whom had retired. They took a tour of their old classrooms and college premises.

“We all shared memories of the good-old times and updated our friends about life since graduation. It was nostalgic for us all,” said Subramaniam.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / February 16th, 2015

Christ King Girls’ School Has a Triple Celebration!

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features

ChristSchoolCF21feb2015

Chennai :

Christ King Girls’ Higher Secondary School, East Tambaram, celebrated Republic Day and Annual Day, and held the felicitation ceremony for the non-teaching retiring staff on January 26.

The tricolour was hoisted by chief guest Dr Pratiba Nalini, an alumnus of the school. There was a march past by students of the school’s voluntary units (National Service Scheme, guides, junior Red Cross and National Green Corps). Cultural programmes included Parai aattam, an ancient form of folk art where dancers perform while beating a drum. Prizes were awarded to toppers in academics and sports.

The special guest was Beno Zaphine, who passed the Indian Administrative Services exam though she was visually challenged.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by Express News Service / February 20th, 2015

Guard of Honour for MOP Achievers

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Students of MOP Vaishnav College during the College’s annual day celebrations | D SAMPATHKUMAR
Students of MOP Vaishnav College during the College’s annual day celebrations | D SAMPATHKUMAR

Chennai :

A colourful marchpast by enthusiastic students and a choreographed aerobics show were the highlights of the 23rd annual sports day of MOP Vaishnav College for Women held at the University Union grounds on Monday.

Dr S Sundararaj, Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu, presided over the function and addressed the students and staff.

“We are moving towards an age where education is not just about marks, but also about health and fitness,” said Sundararaj, lauding the college for recognising this. The minister felicitated Aparajita Balamurugan of first year MBA (silver in squash) and Aishwarya Nedunchezhiyan of second year BA sociology (bronze in sailing), who won medals at the Asian Games.

MOP sportswomen who performed well at the recent National Games in Kerala were also recognised. G Gayathri, a PhD scholar in commerce, who won the gold medal in 100m hurdles, setting a new meet record, was awarded the BS Raghavan Endowment Prize for top individual performance in athletics. Also awarded was Sandhya Winfred, who won bronze in rifle shooting at the National Games. The college presented awards to six international players, 19 national-level players, 76 state-level players and 54 university-level players. Dr V Mahadevan, director of physical education, University of Madras, was guest of honour.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by Express News Service / February 17th, 2015

Cultural fete begins

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

TechofestCF11feb2015

College of Engineering, Guindy’s, five-day cultural festival, Techofes, will begin on Wednesday with a concert and comedy show.

The 68th edition of the festival will be inaugurated by director Gautam Vasudev Menon and actors Arun Vijay and Vaibhav.

This will be followed by pianist Anil Srinivasan’s concert and a comedy show by Chinni Jayanth, a release said.

Techofes will host over 90 events over four days and feature shows by Naresh Iyer, Saindhavi, Gaana Bala and a concert by Delhi-based band Parikrama.

The competitions, which begin on Thursday, will include a battle of the bands, variety show and choreo night.The festival is organised by the Students Association and Arts Society of the college. Further details on the events, ticket sales and registration are available on www.techofes.in.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – February 11th, 2015

A pioneer of women’s education in Madurai from a foreign land

Amazing Feats, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion

Madurai :

Three streets (a main road and two connecting roads) near St Britto School in Gnanaolivapuram here, called Sister Rose street, bear the name of a Canadian nun who pioneered girls’ education in Madurai and founded three important educational institutions in the temple town.

Sr Rose Benedicte Benoit (1898 – 1968), known as Mother Rose in Madurai, was born as Marie Ange Benoit at le Conte de Drummont in Canada. She joined the congregation of Sisters of St Joseph of Lyons in the year 1913 and became a nun in 1915. She came to down to India in the year 1924 and was the first American missionary of the congregation to work in the country. During her service in Madurai, she found that girl children were seen a burden and many daughters used to be abandoned. Realising that empowering women through education will put an end to their misery, she started Holy Family Primary School in 1953 inside St Britto School campus, which she shifted to an adjacent plot in later years.

She eventually went on to found renowned educational institutions for girls here like St Joseph’s School and Fatima College.

“Sr Rose was the pioneer of promoting women’s education in Madurai and she founded three important education institutions for women here,” said Sr A Sahayamary, Head Mistress of Holy Family Girls School in Gnanaolivapuram.

Sr Kulandai Therese, 68, correspondent of the school and hailing from the locality, remembers the personality of Sr Rose. “She was the most compassionate and tender-hearted nun I saw as a girl when I was growing up here. Most of this area included slums inhabited by poor people. She would go to every house and bring girl children from houses, convincing parents to educate them. She did a phenomenal service to women’s education,” she said.

Sr Rose died of lung infection, believed to have been caused by the excess cement she inhaled during the construction of Fatima College. While she was alive, to honour her service, Madurai municipality offered a medal, but she declined to accept it. After her death, her statue was erected in old Kamarajar University Campus inside the city, Sr Therese added.

D Solomon, 62, a resident of Melaponnagaram, said that it was a mostly-dalit area and nuns from the convent helped them a great deal. They educated their children and the streets were named after the foreign nun who worked tirelessly for the cause of women’s education.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by J. Arockiaraj, TNN /February 08th, 2015

SBOA wins Coast Guard Quiz Competition ‘Inquizitive’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Chennai :

As part of the Indian Coast Guard Day celebrations, a quiz competition was organised by Headquarters Coast Guard Region (East) at the Chennai Port for school children, onboard the ship Sarang recently.

Participants from SBOA School emerged champions, while Bala Vidya Mandir and Sivaswami Kala emerged runners-up.  P Vanankamudi, vice-chancellor, Dr Ambedkar Law University, Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the competition, in  the presence of Ila Sharma, president, Coast Guard Wives Welfare Association (Tatrakshika), East.

Speaking at the event, Vanankamudi said that Swachh Bharat was not only a call for cleanliness on streets, but also politics in the country. He pointed out that quiz competitions like these gave youngsters confidence and helped groom their leadership skills.

At least 80 students from 25 Schools from classes eight to 11 registered and participated in the quiz competition. The quiz was conducted by quiz master V V Ramanan.

He quizzed the students about the memorials constructed in the name of Mahatma Gandhi.

The aim of the competition was to create awareness among school children about the duties and responsibilities of Indian Coast Guard, which is entrusted with task of safeguarding the extensive coastlines as well as the adjacent waters of the Indian Peninsula. The quiz also aimed at motivating the youth to join the Indian Coast Guard.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / February 04th, 2015