logo
Visually impaired CBSE topper gets seat at Ethiraj College with full scholarship

Visually impaired CBSE topper gets seat at Ethiraj College with full scholarship

The Hindu19-05-2025

Harshitha V., a visually-impaired girl who had scored 486 in the Class XII CBSE Board Exam, has been offered a seat with full scholarship at Ethiraj College.
In a post on X, V.M. Muralidharan, Chairman of the college, said: 'Exceptionally abled! Outstanding performance! Truly inspiring! Spoke to super girl Harshitha now, and welcomed her to join Ethiraj College for Women, with a full scholarship!' He added that the girl and her parents would visit the college on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) to complete the formalities.
The Hindu had reported about Ms. Harshitha's achievement a week ago. Ms. Harshitha had scored a centum in Tamil. A student of Maharishi Vidya Mandir Avigna in Chengalpattu, she had the assistance of a scribe to write the exam. 'I feel happy that I have got the course that I wanted and in a reputed college. I am grateful to my parents, school, and the Chengalpattu Collector,' Ms. Harshitha said.
Ms. Harshitha suffered optic neuritis — the inflammation of the optic nerve — when she was six years old and became completely blind as a result. She used to download her textbooks, convert them into documents, and learn through the text-to-speech feature on her mobile phone.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The transformative power of Kalai Thiruvizha: a teacher's journey
The transformative power of Kalai Thiruvizha: a teacher's journey

The Hindu

time13 hours ago

  • The Hindu

The transformative power of Kalai Thiruvizha: a teacher's journey

As educators, we often walk a tightrope — balancing academics with the complex realities of students' lives. I once believed that academic success alone could uplift students from challenging circumstances. But my perspective changed profoundly with Kalai Thiruvizha, a cultural festival introduced in Tamil Nadu's government schools. Initially, I approached the festival with skepticism. Could artistic pursuits really contribute to a student's future in the same way as academic achievement? But as the festival unfolded, I began to see a transformation—not just in my students, but in myself. Kalai Thiruvizha celebrates Tamil culture through dance, music and visual arts. At first, it appeared to be just another extracurricular activity, but it revealed something much deeper: the power of holistic development. I witnessed students — especially those considered problematic— redirecting their energy into meaningful expression. Girls once caught for mischief now practised 'parai attam' during lunch breaks. Shy children found their voice in music; aggressive ones found purpose in dance. One story that will always stay with me is that of a quiet girl from a single-parent household. Her mother worked as a daily wage labourer. Burdened by her circumstances, she often sat silent and withdrawn in class. During Kalai Thiruvizha practice sessions, I noticed her tapping her feet softly to a rhythm. There was a natural grace in her movements that caught my eye. With gentle encouragement, she joined the freestyle dance team. Initially hesitant, she gradually blossomed. Her eyes began to reflect confidence, her body language transformed. These experiences taught me that students are not mere vessels for academic instruction. They are individuals carrying unseen burdens. Art gave them a space to process their emotions, express their inner worlds, and find healing. More than just creative outlets, these performances became lifelines — building confidence, teamwork, and discipline. As a teacher, this journey forced me to reassess my assumptions. I had been addressing only part of my students' needs by focusing exclusively on academics. Kalai Thiruvizha revealed that arts are not a distraction but an essential component of education. They foster emotional resilience, cultural connection and a sense of community. The transformation was not limited to students. It changed me. I came to understand that teaching is not just about results and scores. It's about seeing the whole child—acknowledging their emotional, social, and creative dimensions. Arts and education are not opposing forces. Instead, they are partners in shaping well-rounded individuals. To my fellow educators: embracing the arts in education is not about compromising academic standards. It is about enriching our students' lives and offering them the tools to heal, connect and thrive. The transformation I witnessed was real, powerful and lasting. In this balance of creativity and knowledge lies the true essence of education. Through festivals such as Kalai Thiruvizha, we are not just teaching — we are building resilient, confident, culturally rooted individuals ready to face the world. (Amudha is a teacher at Government Model Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School on Gengu Reddy Road in Egmore)

Proposed air enclave a work in progress, set to boost Coast Guard's capabilities: DG S. Paramesh
Proposed air enclave a work in progress, set to boost Coast Guard's capabilities: DG S. Paramesh

The Hindu

time15 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Proposed air enclave a work in progress, set to boost Coast Guard's capabilities: DG S. Paramesh

Coast Guard Director General S. Paramesh on Saturday described the long-pending proposal for an air enclave for the maritime law enforcement agency in Thiruvananthapuram as a 'work in progress.' Once all the approvals are secured and it gets commissioned, the enclave will give a fillip to the Coast Guard's charter of duties including search and rescue (SAR) operations in the southern region, he said. According to him, the enclave will permanently station helicopters, considerably enhancing operational preparedness and response to emergencies out at sea. 'Fixed-wing aircraft can come here on detachment and operate from here,' the Flag Officer told The Hindu on Saturday after inaugurating a new, 76.7-m-long jetty for Coast Guard vessels at Vizhinjam. Although the Coast Guard Station at Vizhinjam is equipped with fast patrol vessels and interceptor boats, air support has to come from Kochi, where the Coast Guard has its regional headquarters. The commissioning of a major seaport at Vizhinjam, SAR related to fishing vessels and maritime emergencies such as the recent sinking of the container ship MSC Elsa underscore the need for the increased presence of the Coast Guard in the southern part of Kerala. Expanded Coast Guard presence in Thiruvananthapuram district will definitely help during incidents such as the sinking of MSC Elsa since it is the first responder to maritime emergencies, Mr. Paramesh said. 'It (the sinking of MSC Elsa) is a very unfortunate incident. The matter is being investigated by the Director General Shipping. Once they finish the investigation, we will come to know the reasons that caused the ship to flounder and sink,' he said. The new Coast Guard jetty at Vizhinjam is expected to enhance the Coast Guard's operational preparedness significantly, the Flag Officer said. The construction of the jetty, though started in September 2019, had been delayed on account of the presence of a half-submerged tug at the was resumed in April 2024.

Tamil Nadu education department to roll out reading plan for government schools
Tamil Nadu education department to roll out reading plan for government schools

New Indian Express

time15 hours ago

  • New Indian Express

Tamil Nadu education department to roll out reading plan for government schools

CHENNAI: The School Education Department has issued a government order to streamline the reading of non-academic books among government school students in classes 1-8 and enhance the use of school libraries. The schedule outlines weekly topics on which books can be provided to students in each class throughout the academic year. The topics range from sports, animals, environment, science, to the importance of education and uses of internet, among others. It also includes a plan to organise activities such as storytelling sessions, speeches, and group discussions based on reading material. This move is in line with school education minister's announcement that storytelling sessions, reading challenges, and theme-based reading weeks would be introduced in government schools to improve reading proficiency through better use of libraries. The G.O. has also directed the SCERT to prepare suitable reading materials for each topic and the Integrated Education Department to implement the initiative. Last year, the School Education Department scaled up its Vasippu Iyakkam initiative to cover all government schools across TN. As part of this, each classroom was provided with over 120 Tamil books tailored to various reading levels. Elementary Education Department officials said this latest initiative is a refinement of Vasippu, designed to provide more clarity for teachers. The Directorate of Elementary Education has prepared a schedule that matches the reading levels of students in each class, they added.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store