Portrait of a progressive thinker


At 77 she is still reading , listening to audio books and sports her cheerful smile despite the many health challenges that daunt her. When  I visited her at her chennai home ( in dec 2024) she was wearing a self-designed maxie made from her soft cotton saree . And a pull over from her pure silk saree ( in pic) . I have always admired her ingenuity!  She is Meera athai , my mother-in-law's cousin sister .They grew up together ,  studied in municipal high school , Tiruchengode.  She was married at the age of seventeen. As he two sons started going to school, her husband late Dr.Ramanathan( he was the director at karur vysya bank ) noticed her passion for studying and supported her to complete her graduation. She went on to do her doctorate as well . 
She worked as a professor in Loyola college teaching  American and European literature to students.  I fondly cherish the books she has gifted my son when he was young.  " Shakespeare for children" is one book he loved reading . 
From 1994 to 2009 she travelled many times to  USA  to  
Notre Dame of Maryland university, Baltimore and taught " Indian thought and culture" to college students.
 The indepth preparation that she took up by reading relevant literature, visiting museums etc  amazed me always . Speaking to her opens up a new channel in our thought process everytime I meet her . 
Today she was telling me how in the " post digital era" , students can think of multiple learning avenues . In the fast evolving world, what we learn today may become obsolete  tomorrow.  Her message is " YOU HAVE TO  LEARN TO LEARN.. BE A LIFE LONG LEARNER " . Indeed  it is very essential  to instill this value in youngsters .

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