Learning human values should be more important than scoring high marks – M.A. Niranjan
M.A. Niranjan, Senior Lawyer and immediate past President of the Madikeri Bar Association, speaking after launching a scholarship distribution programme worth Rs. 2.19 lakh to 47 students of journalists in the district on behalf of the Kodagu Patrika Bhavan Trust, advised students that their aim should not only be to secure marks in examinations but also to inculcate human values in their lives.
He expressed hope that the scholarship provided by the Patrika Bhavan Trust would serve as encouragement to nurture the academic talent of journalists’ children. He further stated that it is commendable that the Trust is distributing scholarships to children of journalists across the district.Speaking further, Niranjan remarked that in the past parents struggled to bring their children back home from playgrounds, whereas in the present times it has become a challenge for parents to send children outside to play. He said that students have now become slaves to mobile phones, and warned that parents should not forget that children tend to follow the example set by them.
Analysing the impact of mobile phone addiction, Niranjan said that the main reason today’s children are becoming submissive is their constant immersion in mobile phones, which has made them physically inactive. He cautioned that if this continues, the time is not far when children will be compelled to communicate only through gestures, like mutes.
Niranjan also opined that Kodagu is slowly becoming a home for the elderly without the presence of the younger generation, as most young people leave for bigger cities in search of jobs while the elderly remain in Kodagu. He stressed that efforts should be made to bring the younger generation back to Kodagu, and suggested that children be taken to hospitals, prisons and old-age homes to make them aware of the value of life.
He further shared that his son Tanmay had scored 625 out of 625 in the SSLC examination, but was not provided any additional facilities apart from the government’s honour. He suggested that if the government pays attention to providing appropriate facilities to talented students, which would be beneficial for their future education, it would serve as true encouragement to meritorious students.
Speaking on the occasion, Kodagu Patrika Bhavan Trust Trustee G. Chidvilas said that earlier there was a belief that donations should remain confidential. However, in the present times, when donations or contributions are made public, they not only give satisfaction to donors but also motivate others to contribute. He advised students who received the scholarships to pay greater attention to their academic performance, keeping in mind the increased sense of responsibility.
Trustee S.G. Umesh, who is also in charge of the scholarship programme, informed that while the Trust had distributed Rs. 1.60 lakh to 36 students last year, this year it distributed Rs. 2.19 lakh to 48 students.Trustee Anil H.T. narrated the programme, Treasurer K. Thimmappa welcomed the gathering, Mullengada Madhosh Poovaiah proposed the vote of thanks, and Naveen Chinnappa offered the prayer. Trustees Sridhar Hoovalli and V.P. Suresh were also present.
