Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Grooming students for tomorrow

Anima Balakrishnan

They get a chance to evaluate themselves at a value education symposium organised in the city

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: The symposium conducted by the Art of Living Foundation in the city on Sunday. - Photo: M. Periasamy

Coimbatore: Dream, the children were told, for themselves, for the society as well as their country. The event was a value education symposium, `Sanvitti,' conducted by Art of Living, Coimbatore.

It was a day set aside to let school students know their responsibilities towards themselves and around them. The message was sent across through talks, debates, group discussion and even tai chi.

Around 350 students from 42 schools in Coimbatore, Pollachi, Mettupalayam and Tirupur in the daylong symposium on Youth Empowerment - a Social Responsibility, which was inaugurated by B. K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar.

"Interaction" was the mantra of the day, as the speakers beginning with Mr. Vanavarayar sought the students' participation. So there were queries, anecdotes and even appreciation and applause as the children from classes IX to XII managed to spring a surprise with their smart answers.

As the students blamed lack of unity, commitment and proper management for the poor state of the country, Mr. Vanavarayar said: "To transform a nation into a vibrant power you need the involvement of the people."

Taking children back in time, Mr. Vanavarayar said the country's greatest achievement in the last 58 years — independence — happened since Gandhiji believed in the power of the people and their involvement.

"All answers come from within. There is nothing for you to source from outside," he said.

Mr. Vanavarayar gave the boys and girls two role models. While he chose Sachin Tendulkar for the boys, the girls were asked to look up to Kalpana Chawla, the girl from a village in Haryana "who by her heroic acts has gone beyond the stars."

The students were given a lesson in spirituality and self-discipline by Arun Madhavan, Chairman, Art of Living.

Mr. Madhavan demonstrated through a slide show the link between lifestyle, eating habits and a person's disposition. He also conducted a 15-minute meditation programme for the students.

Psychologist Sashi Chander's lecture on values were interspersed with stories, anecdotes, personal experiences and even tai chi movements. The next session was on health and hygiene by Dr. Lakshmipathy.

Students also expressed their ideas and opinions during group discussion on a variety of youth-related topics such as the approach parents should adopt towards children and internet surfing. They were also given an opportunity to display their creativity during a tableau on balance in nature and the desired change they would want in society.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Poor response to anti-plastic campaign
Grooming students for tomorrow
Corporation disconnects six drinking water lines
Employment racket: three from Kerala arrested
Empowerment through personality development
Flat, house promoters demand common rules
Recruitment for Fire and Rescue Services
Around The City
In Coimbatore Today

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu