Women achievers outnumber men

MYSORE: At the 90th annual convocation of the premier University of Mysore (UOM), it was raining gold medals and prizes on female candidates, this season too. Of the 177 students from five different faculties who were awarded various medals and cash, as many as 115 were women candidates who proved through their success that women can achieve anything if they make up their mind, as in the previous convocations of the varsity.
At the convocation held on Friday, the numbers of female students having won medals turned out to be more. Wishing each other and sharing happiness, each one of them had a unique story to tell, when asked what they felt about their achievements.
One such achiever is Aruna Kumari S, a master degree student in Jainology and Prakrit, a mother of two who managed to bag eight medals. Aruna said, "I did my MA in political Science in 1995 and later wished to learn more about Jainology and thus took up the course. As I chose to study from UOM attending regular classes, managing to attend classes and concentrating on the family was no easy job. I would study when ever I found time from my house work, after my children left to school at 10 am." However, the 38-year-old lady said she loved the days when she got to sit along with her children and prepare for examinations along with them. "We have studied for exams together so many times when our exams have fallen at similar times. I will credit my husband for all my accomplishments for he has stood by me always."
Said Sunitha M R, a student of MA in Kannada having bagged eight medals and two cash prizes - highest among all the master degree students: "I am extremely happy. Kannada is my favourite subject. I always believed in understanding the subject while studying, rather than studying for eight to ten hours a day."
Another achiever who won a total of 15 medals and prizes is Aravind Mithra, a BA student from Mahajana First Grade College. Said Aravind, "I am happy but I did not study to win medals or cash as I have never believed in it. It is sad that most people study to score more marks and win medals. One should study for knowledge."
Sudeesh Kumar who won eight medals and two cash prizes in Chemistry was as elated too. He said, "I'm delighted but never thought I'd win so many prizes. Nor did I do anything special to win them all. I studied the way all other students do. I thank god and my parents for this. I will do PhD in chemistry next and wish to work for the welfare of the country''.
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Graduate Shalini M P was also one among the many students who were awarded gold medals at the convocation. But her feat impressed one and all so much that even the governor couldn't help congratulating the youngster, as she went on stage accompanied by her mother to receive her prizes. A visually impaired student from the Mrimallappa's Degree College, Shalini M P was awarded a cash prize and two gold medals on the occasion, for having secured highest in History, one of the subjects she studied in BA.
Shalini said, "I am thrilled. I give credit to my parents and relatives for this. My elder brother Kiran M P, a student of the UOM department of studies in English is visually impaired too and my parents have always stood by us, helping us reach this position. I wish to sit for the IAS exam next."
Shalini's mother K P Parvathamma who was also excited over her daughter's achievement proudly said, "Shalini has secured good marks since childhood and is good at extra curricular activities too. My husband helps them a lot and also writes their assignments." However Parvathamma said, when the children were young, an acquaintance made fun of their impairment and it was then that he decided he'll do something to help the kids. He resigned as a political science lecturer at a college in Bangalore, only to help the children study and come up in life. ``Today, we are happy they have reached this position and proved those people wrong".