ACHIEVEMENT -- 12:

MUJAMIL WINS NATIONAL MEDAL AGAIN; GETTING TRAINED FOR OLYMPICS

P S SUNDAR

A Mujamil (21) of Boys Company area near Coonoor has brought laurels to The Nilgiris and Tamil Nadu state yet again – this time by winning Bronze Medal in the 59^th National Open Athletic Championship held in Ranchi.

“Mujamil has scripted a new chapter in the sporting history of The Nilgiris as he is the first from this district all these years to win a Medal in Open Athletic Nationals in 800-metres running race”, his coach Mohammed Azarudeen told me.

 “He is also the first in the last 12 years to win a Medal for Tamil Nadu in 800 metres running event in Open Athletic Nationals”, he said.

Mujamil (left) and Azarudeen

“In August, I won Silver Medal in National Inter-state Senior Athletic Championship.  So, this is my second National Medal in two months.  I am happy to have brought laurels to the Tamil Nadu Athletic Association”, said Mujamil.

In March, he had won Gold in the Chief Minister’s trophy athletics and received the trophy and cash award of ₹ one lakh from the CM.       

“When I was a student at St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor, I had won Gold in 800 metres and Silver in 1,500 metres at state level”,  recalled  Mujamil who has completed his college study in English Literature. He had also won Medals at university level athletic meets.

“I attribute my success to the high-altitude training received from my coach Mohammed Azarudeen because this training has given me the confidence to win in National and International level sporting competitions”, he said.

“Considering the consistent winning of Mujamil, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has chosen him for the Indian national Camp to be held in Patiala.   This will hone up his nuances to win Medal in the Senior Athletic Championship in March 2020 which will form the selection ground for 2020 Tokyo Olympics”, said Azarudeen, a certified coach of International Association of Athletic Federation who has trained a candidate each for Rio Olympics and Junior Youth Olympics.

Azarudeen has just returned from Indonesia after attending a fully-sponsored lecturers’ training programme for coaches.

It was a pleasure to see these youngsters being complimented by another Coonoor-residing international award winner Pooja Singh Yohan who has just returned from Greece after winning ‘Triple Crown’ in Haut Monde Mrs Worldwide 2019’ finals – First Runner-up (South), Mrs Style Icon and Mrs Porto Carras, Greece, making her the first woman from The Nilgiris all these years to win three titles in one international contest.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

ACHIEVEMENT -- 11:

ST ANTONY’S HEADMASTER RECEIVES ‘MAHATMA GANDHI AWARD’

By P S SUNDAR 

The Headmaster and Correspondent of the 154-year-old St Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, Bro Dr Thomas Selvam is among the few selected from different parts of the state to attend a dinner meet with Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chennai coming Sunday (Oct 6).

“This follows my receiving the ‘Mahatma Gandhi Award’ on Gandhi Jayanthi day in Chennai at the function organised by Gandhi World Foundation (GWF) at which the Governor distributed awards”, Bro Dr Thomas Selvam told me on return from Chennai.

According to the GWF’s Founder President M L Rajesh, Bro Dr Thomas Selvam received the award for being an ‘Achiever in Education Service’ at GWF’s ‘Gandhi 150 International Peace Festival’ to celebrate the 150th Birth anniversary of the Mahatma.

Bro Dr Thomas Selvam is among the 150 highly remarkable persons in 10 categories selected for the award, Rajesh noted.

“I received a citation, Memorabilia items relating to Gandhiji, a statue of The Mahatma and the book, ‘My Experiments with Truth’ the autography of Gandhiji”, Bro Dr Thomas Selvam said.

The teachers and students of St Antony’s honoured him in the school for bringing laurels to the institution with this coveted award.   This set the pace for Gandhiji’s 150th birth celebrations in the school.

Bro Dr Thomas Selvam who holds PhD in English Literature and Masters degree in Education has 30 years of teaching experience (as also Headmaster experience) in various schools run by the Montfort Brothers of St Gabriel.

He has the credit of producing centum pass in X and XII standard Public exams for 12 years.   Even at Coonoor St Antony’s, a Government aided school, where the majority of the students belong to poor family background, centum pass results were obtained at last year’s X and XII standard public exams.

He said that his contribution to imparting soft skill training to tribal children in The Nilgiris got recognised for the award.

He has already imparted soft skill training to teachers of over 70 schools by now.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com) 

ACHIEVEMENT -- 10

MUJAMIL BRINGS CREDIT TO THE NILGIRIS

P S SUNDAR

A Mujamil (21) of Boys’ Company area near Coonoor has brought laurels to The Nilgiris by annexing Gold in the Chief Minister’s trophy.

“I won Gold when I emerged as the topper in 800 metres race at state level contest held in Trichy”, he told me.

“I received the trophy and a cash award of ₹ one lakh from the Chief Minister”, he said.

“When I was a student at St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor, I had won Gold in 800 metres and Silver in 1,500 metres at state level”,  recalled  Mujamil who is now studying for BA English Literature.

“I attribute my success to the high-altitude training received from my coach Mohammed Azarudeen because this training has given me the confidence to rise to senior level sporting competitions”, he said.

Mujamil (right) with his coach Mohammed Azarudeen.

 “In the CM Trophy event, he clocked 1:53:05 second which is rated among the best for the category and the age-group concerned”, said Azarudeen who is a certified coach of International Association of Athletic Federation. 

“We are working on further improving the clocking time so that he could produce medals at international events”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoro@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 27:

NLPTC –

WHERE EVERY STUDENT, INTERESTED AND ELIGIBLE, GETS A JOB

BY P S SUNDAR

Established in 1984, Nanjiah Lingammal Polytechnic College in Sirumugai Road of Mettupalayam conducted its Lighting Ceremony as part of its 35^th Annual Day in a solemn manner on March 1, 2019.

As the Chief Guest, I commenced the ceremony by lighting the Mother Lamp (Kuthu Vilakku).

My wife, S Shyamala, Guest of Honour, followed.

A M Chinnaraj, Joint Managing Trustee of Tamil Nadu Kalvi Kappu Arakkattalai, which runs the college, lit the third light.

K Muthuswamy, Secretary, and TTS Baskaran, Administrative Officer and J Kousalya, Principal, followed.  

Guided by the Professors, as many as 348 boys and girls studying in Final Year class leaving the college lit candles from this Mother Lamp.

Holding the candles, they took oath to serve in their profession meticulously, bring laurels to their Alma Mater and shun violence all through their life.

Then, they fixed the candles in the formation of NLPTC to mark their college. 

Addressing them, the Principal J Kousalya advised them to forget any ill will they might have developed during their college times and focus on rendering the best of their service while on job.   She urged them to come out with innovative inventions as engineers.

Joint Managing Trustee Chinnaraj stressed on the importance of involvement in their career.  He motivated them to start industries after gaining sufficient experience.

Secretary Muthuswamy said that many of them have already got jobs in good companies through campus selection.  Some have opted to go for higher studies. The situation would be just that there would be 100 per cent job opportunity to all diploma holders seeking job in industries, he noted.   He also said that Alumni Association has been started in the college to help the students all through their life.

Administrative Officer Baskaran explained at length the facilities offered by the College and the benefits the students enjoyed while at this college.   He also showed how many students benefited from the scholarship and fee waiver schemes adopted by the Trust in this Polytechnic.   He wanted them to grow up following the motto ‘Not by delay’.

In my Chief Guest address, I explained that the secret to scale new heights after procuring Diploma was in the abbreviation , ‘DIPLOMA’ expanding into Determination to scale new heights, Involvement, Productivity Rise, Learning life-long, Outstanding, Morality and Attitude.

As many as 175 students were issued the Appointment Orders from various companies following their selection in campus interview.  The parents of the students accompanied them to receive the Orders. 

J Sharmila of Computer Engineering department was honoured with Dr R K Sivanappan Award as the Best Outgoing student which included a cash prize of Rs 5,000.

Some students holding their Appointment Orders in the presence of the dignitaries:: 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)      

AWARD -- 10:

THIS TEACHER HAS GIVEN RS 1.10 LAKH FROM HIS PERSONAL MONEY TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS

P S SUNDAR

It is an unusual gesture for a teacher in a Government-aided school to spend ₹ 1.10 lakh from his personal money to motivate his students at Plus Two level.

But, that is exactly what G Rajendran, post-graduate teacher of Political Science in the Government-aided St Antony’s Higher Secondary School in Coonoor, has done in the last five years of his becoming the teacher for this subject for Plus Two students.

“I present ₹ 10,000 to every student who scores 190 marks out of 200 in Political Science subject in Plus Two Public Exam.  While I do this motivate the students to study well, given the poor economic conditions of our students, this money helps them a lot”, Rajendran told me.

“In the academic year 2017-18, two students got ₹ 10,000 each from the personal money of Rajendran.  We made the Chief Guest V Nandhakumar IRS, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, to distribute the cash on stage at our 153^rd Annual Day”, Headmaster Bro Dr Thomas Selvam said.

Add caption

Additional Commissioner of Income Tax Nandakumar (centre) presenting ₹ 10,000 each to Hari Prasad (Right extreme) and Jayaprakash (second left) from the personal money of Rajendran (second right) in the presence of Headmaster Bro Dr Thomas Selvam (left extreme).

Both the students – M Jayaprakash and K Hari Prasad – hail from poor economic background.

“I don’t have father.  My mother is a domestic servant.  I am now studying BBA (CA) in Hindusthan Arts & Science College in Coimbatore.  This sum is very helpful for me to pay term fees”, Jayaprakash said.

“I scored 195 marks out of 200 in Political Science.  My father is a casual painting worker and my mother is a sanitary sweeper.   I am now studying BSc (Geography) in Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli.   I am yet to pay my term fees for want of money and this sum will be highly useful to clear the dues”, Hari Prasad said.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

ACHIEVEMENT -- 9:

RITESH FINISHES ‘MUMBAI MARATHON’ FOR FIFTH YEAR

P S SUNDAR 

Ritesh Choudhary, General Manager, Taj Savoy Hotel, Ooty, has brought laurels to The Nilgiris by completing the ‘TATA Mumbai Marathon 2019’.

“I happened to be the only one from The Nilgiris to do this amidst 8,414 who ran the full marathon”, Ritesh told me.

He had taken over as GM at Ooty only on December 1, 2018, and so, this was his first major run after coming to The Nilgiris.    “But, this is the fifth consecutive year I have completed the full distance in Mumbai Marathon”, he said.

“I finished the full distance of 42.195 kilometres in 4:27:02 hours running at an average pace of 6.20 mts/km.  This was better than my own self prediction”, he disclosed.

“This time, while running, I suffered hamstring pull in my thighs but carried on with my running without succumbing to the injury.  On the contrary, I enjoyed the run with a determination to complete it”, said Ritesh who was adorned with two Medals – ‘The finisher’s Medal’ and ‘The Inspiration Medal’. 

 

He dedicated his ‘Inspiration Medal’ to his nine-year-old nephew Harsh and three year-old daughter Reet.   “It is such children who motivate me with the thought that I can do it.   All over the Marathon route, I saw many children encouraging the runners.  This younger generation is motivating me”, Ritesh (36) said.

Ritesh regularly runs in Ooty, now amidst the frost-biting early morning cold.  “This gives me high altitude training and it, in fact, helped me overcome the inclined running up the hill at Peddar Road during the Mumbai marathon with ease”, he shared.

“I will be participating in Ooty ultra marathon in April.   I call running as ‘moving meditation’ because even as we run, we can medicate and sharpen our skill of thinking and concentration.  At Ooty, we run enjoying the bliss of nature and an identification with God!”, he said.

“Besides, in India which is said to be the diabetic capital of the world, running would help to create a healthier nation; so, the running as a movement must be encouraged all over the country”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 26:

‘PLAYBACK THEATRE’ PRESENTATIONS CATCHING UP

P S SUNDAR 

A member of the audience sits on the ‘Teller Chair’.  Jatin Vakharia,  Nilgiri Theatrix co-ordinator, sits on a chair to his right.

Jatin motivates him/her to come out with an anecdote of actual happening from his life which he would like to see enacted instantaneously by chosen performers.   When he speaks out, Jatin asks some relevant queries to help the performers understand the situation clearly.  Then, he turns to the group of six performers standing to his left and narrates the situation as a summary of the anecdote shared by the ‘Teller’.   Then, he declares, “Let’s watch” which is an international alert for the performers to enact the anecdote as a drama. 

Once done, Jatin asks the ‘Teller’ if the enactment reflected the scenario concerned and gets his views as the audience applauds loudly.

Then, another member of the audience occupies the ‘Teller Chair’ and the scene continues.    This is the Playback Theatre.

“The ‘Teller Chair’ and ‘Let’s watch’ slogan are the crux to ‘Playback Theatre’ which is a unique form of improvised drama that invites a true story from an audience member and is then re-enacted on the spot”, says Jatin who has undergone training from international experts in various places.    

This presentation itself followed a three-day workshop  in Coonoor organised by ‘Nilgiri Theatrix’ when British citizen Brian Tasker, a graduate of the School of Playback Theatre in New York and a Practitioner registered with the International Playback Theatre Network, who had come from the UK, conducted the training.

“I was impressed with the way the participants picked up the nuances of ‘Playback Theatre’.   Learning for three days through involvement makes the contestants confident, bold and participate in team work in all aspects of their life”, Brian told me.  

“This form of drama presentation is easy because it is in an informal way with minimum props.   The enactment is mainly the ‘own stories’ of the audience and hence there is a live connect between the performers and the audience.  Anyone with a willingness and emphatic in character can act in the ‘Playback Theatre’.  This is not much demanding exercise”, he explained.

“At this workshop, the first of its kind in The Nilgiris, there were 15 participants, aged 18 to 69, of whom 11 were women.  Interestingly, 8 girl students studying for BA English Literature in two colleges in Coimbatore – four from Nirmala College for Women and four from Sri Ramakrishna College for Women – participated”, Jatin disclosed.  

“We learnt a lot in the workshop.  Although we had participated in drama presentations in the college before, this concept is totally new to us”, said student Pancinovia.  

“Our college has encouraged us by granting attendance to attend this workshop”, said Pavithra of Nirmal College.

“We will use our creativity and improve our presentation.  The ‘Playback Theatre’ is the in-thing among teens, especially college students now”, said another student Sandhya.

“In the three-day workshop, there was training through dance and music, sociometry exercises developing socialising among the unknown participants, elements of playback including conflict and fluid pictures, expressing the various feelings, storytelling and music playing and actual presentation to attract the audience”, Jatin shared.

He said that considering the overwhelming response, more such workshops and presentations will be held in the months to come.

Brian distributed certificates to all participants.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING -- 25:

PROVIDENCE GIRLS BEGIN 2019 WITH CONFIDENCE 

BY P S SUNDAR. 

The students of Providence College for Women in Coonoor had the benefit of starting 2019 with confidence to face challenges, thanks to ‘Cal-Leo-Graphy School of Handwriting and Calligraphy’ organising a lecture by a young UK-based professional lady.

“We brought in Serena Kern (30), Governor of four schools in London, who excels as ‘Lawyer’ and ‘Singer’ in the UK and lectures to students on ‘thinking differently’, to instil confidence, especially among the rural girls of Providence College hailing from poor socio-economic background”, Leo Fernandes, founder of ‘Cal-Leo-Graphy’ School, told me.

Dr Jacqueline Martin, Head of Commerce department of Providence College, said that as Serena is a law graduate from the London School of Economics and working on international trade at Bank of England, her knowledge and experience would be a boon to students to think global.

Serena made a PowerPoint presentation on “You are not ordinary.. So, don’t try to be!”

Citing anecdotes from her career, she urged the students to hone up their talents and pursue their passion in addition to their profession.  “You need to know your passion, talent and weakness to succeed.  You can excel in more than one field.  Be the best in whatever you do with the confidence that you can do it”, she told them.

“Challenges are much more for young woman but success comes when you become someone whom others are looking up to.  The key is that you should support one another as much as possible”, she said.

She answered a plethora of questions from the students led by Student Council President Julia Jasmine Evelin and Jt Secretary Rebecca Thomas.  

“I was moved when they gave me a standing ovation as I am returning to the UK satisfied that the message has gone to them”, she told me.

Serena balances her time between practising law and performing music presentations in the UK. 

“I am a solo artist Rapper with electronic dance music support on many a stage.  I write my own lyric and sing the version”, she said.

She has an album ‘Sui Generis’.   “I am now working on Tamil rap mixed with English song.  This is an influence on the Tamil lifestyle in which I grew up” said Serena.

Her father Carlo Kern is a Swiss who works in ship industry in Saudi Arabia.   Her mother Deepa Kern is a Tamil.  Interestingly, both of them lived in Coonoor and got educated here.

Deepa’s father CC Philip is a retired Colonel who had also worked as Secretary at Coonoor Club.   He lives with his wife Anne in Coonoor.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

LANDMARK -- 2:

A SCHOOL CALENDAR THAT EDUCATES ALL

BY P S SUNDAR

When St Joseph’s Boys’ Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School (state Board) and St Joseph’s Academy (ICSE and ISC) in Coonoor re-opened on Monday after a month-long winter vacation covering Christmas, New Year and Pongal, the Principal Bro Naveen Francis thrilled all by releasing a thematic wall calendar for 2019 for the school.

The huge calendar measuring 28 inches long and 19 inches wide on glossy paper is on the theme “Hill Stations of India”.

Thus, each page highlights one hill station for each month.   For the 12 months, the calendar focuses on Ooty, Kodaikanal, Dalhousie (Himachal Pradesh), Gulmarg (J & K), Darjeeling (West Bengal), Mussoorie Uttarakhand), Munnar (Kerala), Coorg (Karnataka), Gangtok (Sikkim), Matheran (Maharashtra), Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) and Mount Abu (Rajasthan).

There is a large colour photo of the relevant hill station on the page concerned.  Below each photo, details of the hill station including the elevation, location geographical and historical importance, nearby places and ethnicity of the indigenous population are given. 

A separate box highlights how to reach that hill station, nearest airport, railway station, bus stand as also major picnic spots in and around the station with a map indication.

Collectively, the calendar serves as an encyclopaedia with visuals on each hill station of the country which adds value to the general knowledge of not only the students but the parents and all others who view the calendar.

“We have added on each page a highlight with photos of students who have brought laurels to us and The Nilgiris.  Titled ‘St Joseph’s young achievers’, this segment covers sports, games, art, design, debate, quiz and philanthropy.  Besides crediting the achievers for their contribution, it motivates other students to scale new heights”, Bro Naveen told me. 

The 131 year history covering the birth and growth of the school has also been documented in ‘Down the Memory Lane’ section.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)