The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Celebrating 50 years of women's empowerment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 14, 2006
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Celebrating 50 years of women's empowerment

Anasuya Menon

Avinashilingam Deemed University is synonymous with discipline

FOR EXCELLENCE: The university is one of the best in imparting home science education in the State. - PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

COIMBATORE: Fifty years ago, Avinashilingam University was just a figment of thought in the mind of T.S. Avinashilingam, its founder president. That was the time when memories from the freedom struggle still haunted young minds. And Mr. Avinashilingam was no different. He belonged to the tribe of spirited youth who wanted to be a part in putting together a nation badly bruised by years of domination.

The status of women in the country, particularly in south India, unsettled him and he decided to take up the responsibility to make education accessible to women. "That was a time when there were no educational institutions for girls, and very few parents voluntarily sent their daughters to co-educational institutions. That prompted `Ayya' to start a college for women," says K. Kulandaivel, Chancellor of the University.

Employment options

Having served as the Minister of Education of the Madras Province, Mr. Avinashilingam envisaged an era when women would be equal to men in terms of educational and employment opportunities. The foundation of the Sri Avinashilingam Home Science College was laid in 1957, marking the beginning of an era of opportunities for generations of young women not just from the city, but also around it.

The growth of the college was gradual, but it became one of the best in imparting Home Science education in Tamil Nadu. Courses in Humanities, Sciences, Education, Engineering and Business Studies followed and the college was given autonomous status in 1978. With it came a gamut of new projects that emphasised employability, community-oriented education and making use of modern education methods. The institution was soon given the Deemed University status in 1988. Currently, it offers graduate, postgraduate and research programmes in various disciplines, and does a lot of community-oriented work. It has programmes in 30 villages in and around Coimbatore. NSS activities are compulsory and every student has to spend two hours a week.

Over the years, the institution has become synonymous with discipline.

For many of the staff and students, the university is more or less an extension of their family. With a familiarity strengthened over years of studying and working together. Rajammal P. Devadas, who was the principal of the college, encouraged many a young girl to pursue higher levels of academic excellence, says Saroja Prabhakaran, Vice-Chancellor of the university. "She was the one who moulded me."

Instilling cultural values in its students has always been one of its priorities. Students are expected to wear sari to college every Wednesday, so that they keep the tradition of the country alive within them.

The university has plenty of activities lined up for the golden jubilee year. National seminars in various subjects would be organised. A `satsang' with Art of Living master Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a musical programme, an exhibition of the college's 50 years, kaviarangam and pattimandram would also be conducted. A solar-steam cooking system will also be installed at the university.

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

Tamil Nadu