ERODE : In the evenings of Mondays and Wednesdays, a group of young, enthusiastic boys and girls, sitting in a hall, clap their hands in unison as they go about singing devotional and patriotic songs.

The group sways their head and body letting the music percolate in them. At the end of this session , the students return to their rooms, happy, and then immerse themselves in thermo dynamics, computational mathematics, 'C' and 'C++'.

For these engineering students of the Bannari Amman Institute of Technology (BIT), bhajans, yoga and meditation are part of their campus life.

The students say it has helped them shed inhibitions, lose fear, improve interpersonal relationships and transform themselves into a better being.

Leadership skills

"After the practice, I have discovered my leadership skills," says A. P. Raghuvaran, a final year Electronics and Communication Engineering student of the college.

Besides the improved confidence, students also point to better physical health. "I often used to feel tired. Now I am able to spend long hours in the lab as well as with books, thanks to yoga and meditation," says U. Neelambikai, a Computer Technology sophomore of the college.

Better performance

At the BIT, the management has taken yoga to the students six years ago. "The aim behind introducing spiritual practices to students is to help them perform better. It brought laudable results to the college," points out A. Shanmugam, the Principal. Here the faculty too have undergone training.

At the K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, the management has availed itself of the services of a psychologist to improve the performance of slow learners. "We have just started addressing the students. Our aim is to identify students' problems and help them come out of it," says PSS. Srinivasan, the principal.

At the Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai, yoga and meditation classes have been incorporated in the timetable for the first year students. A yoga hall is also at the students' disposal. The management offers these services free of cost.

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