Jeyalakshmi is a headmistress in a government school in Chennai. She has been providing free coaching classes in the evening at her house for the poor students. Working tirelessly at this initiative for many many years she has managed impacting the lives of 1000's of individuals. This is truly due to the power of the Individual 'Jeyalakshmi'

This episode is our conversation with Jeyalakshmi. She truly embodies the spirit of 'pay it forward'

Interview Trancript--------------------

Interviewer: Welcome Jeyalakshmi Madam

Jeyalakshmi: Welcome

Interviewer: Thanks a lot for giving us time and for agreeing to talk to us

Jeyalakshmi: With Pleasure

Interviewer: For the last 15 years you have provided education support to the needy right? Could you elaborate on it?

Jeyalkashmi: In 1974 I got appointed as a teacher in management school. If you look at my background, I struggled a lot and have come up the hard way. A teacher named “Manogaramma’ helped me. I thought about it. I felt that God has helped and I should do the same too. That is how I started. I do whatever I can to support the educational cause. I allocate at least 10% of my income for helping poor students in whatever manner I can.

Interviewer: What kind of educational support do you provide?

Jeyalakshmi: I have started “Mannika Mannavar Thitam” through which I select poor students from 9th – 12th in the neighbourhood and provide them with a place in my house for them to study (from 6.00 to 9.00). I also provide them with food because they are in the study class for a long time. Also many of these children do not get adequate food. I feel providing education is the best form of support as that will help them change their lives. Like me, they too can in turn help others .

I have been running this initiative for the past five years. Prior to that, I used to help students (up to 8th Standard) from my school. Only then it struck me why not provide them with coaching facilities for free. Parents normally end up spending Rs.3,000 – 4,000 on tuition. Teachers known to me came forward to help me. Got teachers for Science, Maths, etc. Now, students who have passed out from here are taking classes. College going students who studied here three years back are now teaching various courses.

As many have come forward to take the class sessions, I have now set up two rooms in the terrace of my house. This is specially helpful for those who do not have conducive study environment at home. Some students stay back and go home early in the morning.

Interviewer: Excellent. Students who studied here, are they well placed in life now?

Many. Just don’t want students education to be disrupted. In my own life, I had to struggle to continue my studies. In those days not much emphasis was given to female education but I was adamant. I was not very keen on being a teacher. I wanted to take up another profession. Since there was lot of opposition for that, I took up teaching. But once I got into it, I gave it my all. I decided that I would do my best. Till date I have been doing it. I teach in primary school (teaching only up to 8th standard). To prevent students dropping out of school beyond this standard I personally enrol students them in other schools for further education. If parent’s have some problems, I try to find out about it and help them out. I make the parents aware of the importance of education.

Many students who have been supported this way have done very well. Some have become physiotherapists, some work in offices, and some are now studying in college

Interviewer: Wonderful to know how their lives have changed. You started with providing coaching to students, what made you involve the parents?

Jeyalakshmi: There was this girl Buwaneswari. I still can’t forget her. She is no longer alive because of her parents. She studied with me till 8th standard. She was a very talented child. She died when she was in 12th standard. That was when cricket world cup was also happening. As they were watching the world cup matches, she could not study for her 12th board exam. Because of which she fought with her parents. They did not think her education was important enough as she was anyway going to be married to her uncle. She studied late into the night and in the morning dig not get up early enough to do the household chores. She had rush to the exam centre. Upon which her parents shouted at her stating that she is too busy studying to take care of house hold work. She got very depressed and ended up committing suicide. She called me up before committing suicide and narrated this incident. I did ask her to not bother about it and just concentrate on her studies. But… She wrote three papers and got a very good score of 590. She had three more papers to go when she committed suicide. I have just not been able to forget it. Only then did I decided, that I should speak to the parents as well. Parents too need to be counselled. I have supported parent’s for medical treatment, blood donation, etc

Speaking of blood donation, I must tell you the about this girl Padma. She was my student and her mother was being operated in the General Hospital. It was festival time and holiday season, I did not have my usual support system (Meenakshi College provides me with a lot of support). Padma was crying because her mother was in need of blood. I contacted blood bank in United India Colony. I was willing to pay for it. They charged me Rs.1,600 for two units of blood. When I paid the amount, Padma thanked me for it. It was then the person at the blood bank enquired as to how I was related to the girl. When he came to know that she was my student, he was amazed at the extent of support a teacher is providing to a student. He returned my money and ensured that the blood was delivered at the hospital promptly.

Interviewer: Like this, have many persons come forward to help you?

Jeyalakshmi: Yes. Definitely. Seeing the work, many have come forward to support. Some have given books. Even for culturals, there is this person, who composes songs for these children. There are many such kind hearted souls. They just know how to go about providing support

Interviewer: Yes. There are many who want to help but don’t know how to go about it. What would be your suggestion to them?

Jeyalakshmi: They should find those who are doing good job. There are some who are not doing a genuine job. These individuals should go in person and check for themselves the work that has been undertaken Interviewer: You have accomplished so much as an individual; do you plan on setting up an organization?

No. I work with organizations but I would just like to do how much ever I can as an individual

Interviewer: Thank you. It is inspiring to speak to persons such as you.

Jeyalakshmi: Thank you_____________________________________________________________________If you would like to support Jeyalakshmi send us an e-mail at [email protected]

We would like to thank Mr. J. Prabhakaran for putting us in touch with Ms. Jeyalakshmi