Deccan Herald

Mangalore, Jul 29: The seminar series on ‘True Education’ facilitated by Dr Bhamy Venkataramana Shenoy came to an end on Friday. The valedictory function of the programme held at Sri Venkataramana Swamy College in Bantwal on an experimental basis was held on Saturday.

Interestingly, the chief guest of the function was a 7th standard student of  Bantwal Govt Higher Primary School Master Harish.

Speaking to Deccan Herald Dr Shenoy said that Harish is the representative of a certain section of the society who need to be paid attention to. Despite his very poor family background, Harish is a bright student and good leader in a school where the number of students have dropped from 100 to a pathetic 35 in a short period.
By choosing Harish as the chief guest, we want to bring the focus on hundreds of students like him and schools like his, said Dr Shenoy.

The comfort he showed on stage and the way he spoke are proof of his capability, he said and added that one of the participants of the seminar has volunteered to bear the expenses for his studies henceforth.

The unique seminar series conceptualised and executed by Dr Shenoy started on June 12 with an aim to promote thinking and questioning in students, two important attributes of any learning process which are not usually imparted in the typical class rooms.  About 20 degree students from the college have been actively taking part in this programme, who expressed their opinions during the function.

According to most of them, the programme gave them confidence to speak out their feelings, ask questions which they earlier feared would make them a laughing stock, developed their personality and character, develop newspaper reading habit and above all to think for themselves and analyse various topics. The parents of the students who attended the function, too were happy with the way their wards have progressed.

Having heard of the True Education seminar, colleges like Bhuvanendra College in Karkala, Canara College in Mangalore, Bhandarkar’s College in Kundapur and Tirthahalli College have shown interest to implement a similar program.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, co-ordinator of the programme Premalatha Pai said that the programme will be continued in the current academic year itself, but with another batch of participants.

Principal of the College Dr Seetharama Mayya, Suman Shenoy and faculty members were present on the occasion.