Tamil Nadu: How a teacher’s belief changed a tribal student’s future

Chennai: With her family migrating to Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka for four months every year to work in coffee plantations, Durga has always found it tough to continue her studies at a government tribal residential school in Tiruvannamalai district.

From first standard to eighth standard, Durga didn’t attend school for the four months during which her family—her parents and two siblings—worked in the neighbouring state. But things changed when she was promoted to ninth standard, as her Maths teacher, Maha Lakshmi, convinced Durga to stay at the hostel even when her family was away, giving her the confidence that she could clear her 10th exams with flying colours.

And on May 16, when the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam results were announced, Maha Lakshmi’s perseverance and Durga’s hard work paid off—the latter cleared the 10th exams with a first-class mark of 60 percent.

“At 3 pm on results day, I received a call from Durga’s brother, Kaatu Raja, seeking to know her marks. When I said she scored 301 out of 500, I could hear Durga weeping in the background. I told her she had passed the exam and asked her whether she would join plus-one. She said yes, and that is what I always wanted,” Maha Lakshmi told DH over the phone.

Maha Lakshmi, a passionate teacher at the government tribal residential school, has been credited with enrolling children from the tribal areas of Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai by convincing their parents. She has been recognized in the past for her efforts to ensure that tribal children receive an education, with several Tamil publications awarding her for her work.

When Durga decided to continue her education after passing eighth standard, many discouraged her, saying she wouldn’t be able to cope with her studies due to the nature of her family’s work. At one point, Durga even decided to drop out, but intervention by the school ensured that she continued her education.

“I always believed she was good at Math, and I encouraged her. When her family was away in Karnataka, we ensured she stayed in the hostel and continued her studies. As a teacher, I knew her capacity, and I am only happy that she has made the school proud,” Maha Lakshmi added.

The teacher is also responsible for the school’s transformation from a primary school to a high school.