sethukumanan

Father being a teacher, Dr. Sethu Kumanan had a strong desire to become a teacher himself. Working as a teacher in a private school did not quench his thirst. He aspired to achieve something significant in the field of education. With the moral and financial support of his maternal uncle and father-in-law Mr Sethu Bhaskaran, he started a school in 1988 under the banner “Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary School” at Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai 600 053 with just eight students. The school has now grown up with the guidance and support of numerous well-wishers to the extent of producing state ranks. The school strength is now nearly 8000.

The school imparts value-based education to children, who are mostly first generation school-goers. Hailing from an economically backward family, Dr. Sethu Kumanan could appreciate how financial stringency could hinder the academic progress of an individual. Sethu Bhaskara MHS school offers concessions within its means and occasionally beyond, to the needy, so as not to deprive a child of knowledge just for want of money.

In Sethu Bhaskara, apart from offering free education and fee concessions to the wards of our staff, the school tries to extend the facility to other students also – parentless, fatherless, financially backward and on medical grounds. Around 248 students enjoy free education. These students and the visually- challenged will come under the banner Dr. Ikeda School Students. The meritorious students – proficient in academics as well in sports are given free education to encourage them and to motivate other students.

Sethu Bhaskara School enjoys the pride of being the first English Medium School in India to launch Integrated Education for the visually-challenged children. The School Management willingly and happily bears the responsibility of providing free education, transport, uniform, etc to the twenty two visually-challenged students who are covered by this scheme.

The most striking part of this scheme is the mingling of these students with the students in the general stream, by which they attend classes along with the normal children in the regular class rooms. As these children are able to mingle with other students, they gain the confidence that they can cope up with the peers who have normal vision.

Dr. Sethu Kumanan strongly believes that it is not enough just to sympathise with the visually-challenged. Instead, we should see what best can be done for them. That is the reason why all efforts have been taken to initiate to help the visually-challenged enjoy their rights to live happily as others do, by giving them education, which is like eyes to every human being.

Having struggled for fetching a job for himself and watching the plight of the village boys, Dr. Sethu Kumanan started an Industrial Training Center in his native village Kandramanickam in the year 1997 “ Sethu Bhaskara I.T.C.” with an aim to make them capable bread-winners. The students are trained in different fields – Fitter, Wireman and Electrician. Around 300 students have successfully completed the course and are now comfortably placed locally and abroad. He has also started Sethu Irani Matric.Hr.Sec.School in the year 1998 to impart education to students in his native village. More than 500 students are studying.

Taken up by the view point of the great Japanese philosopher Dr.Daisaku Ikeda, an enthusiastic educationist and ardent follower of Gandhian principles, Dr. Sethu Kumanan decided to follow his path. Dr.Ikeda, his mentor, fervently believes in educating the people of the rural area and in the empowerment of women. His adoration for this noble personality lead to the founding of a college exclusively for women, an institution to cater to the educational needs of the rural women in the name of the renowned educationist “ Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women , Chennai 600 099 in the year 2000. Rightly as the banner specifies, the college imparts value-based education.

It is a matter of pride that our college has been identified as the “Institution of Excellence” by the National Advisory Committee of Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, New Delhi for the services in the field of women’s education and empowerment.

The Father of our Nation has said, Agriculture is the backbone of our nation. However it is disheartening to see that agriculture is being denied prominence and fields are being transformed to plots for construction. With a vision to revive the interest of the younger generation in farming, he has started Sethu Bhaskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation at Visalayankottai, Karaikudi Taluk, very close to his native place, Kandramanickam, Sivagangai District.

Dr. Sethu Kumanan’s dreams are thus coming true by the Grace of God and the good wishes of countless well-wishers. There are yet many dreams of his to take shape, in the words of Robert Frost.

“And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep”

His service in the field of Education is tremendous. Pudur and Madhanangkuppam have found their place in the Indian map of education on account of Dr.Sethu Kumanan. A school that started with just eight students in the year 1988 has grown up in such a short span of time to touch a student strength of 8000. How has this been possible, if not for his hard work.

In today’s male-dominating society, where men wish to keep women under their control, here is a man who strives for women empowerment. Thanks to his noble vision, many girls of the rural area of Madhanangkuppam have become graduates and have been placed well in reputed organizations.

A great personality as he is with so many awards and accolade to his credit, the best feature of his character is his humility. It is this humbleness that makes him all the more a great personality.

A helping hand to the needy “hands that help are better than the lips that pray.

Dr. Sethu Kumanan is a benevolent giver who is ready to help the needy. He has helped so many financially backward students in their education.