“Even in this day, the struggle to get girl children educated continues. Given this situation, it is not difficult to imagine how it would have been for girls to get educated a hundred years ago,” said Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, as she participated in the centennial celebrations of Vivek Vardhini Kanyashala was established in Hyderabad in the year 1916, with 23 students.
The school which is now an institution in itself began with education in Marathi medium, and in English from 1961. Students of the school used to take the Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) examination in Nagpur till the year 1949, when VV Kanyashala got recognition.
The school has produced generations of students who have gone on to became doctors, engineers, musicians and excelled in other fields as well.
Two students, Susheela Vyapari and Pramodini Bindu, who studied from the Kanyashala in the late 1940s were felicitated as part of the celebrations, which was also attended by politicians from Telangana who shared their memories they hold with the school, and college.
Chief guest of the centenary celebrations Sumitra Mahajan said that it was important for girls to involve in games, and women to have a say in arguments that arise in families. She stressed that along with academics, exercise is also important. “I will contribute `1 lakh to buy equipment if you want to do anything about exercise,” she said.
Nizamabad MP K Kavitha, said that Maharashtrian and Telugu communities in the city share cordial relations, and explained how she drew inspiration from Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in bringing together women to participate in struggle for Telangana State.
Explaining the influence of people who share a connection with Maharashtra, she said, “Kaloji Narayana Rao was a fiery writer, and a great poet. He was an inspiration for lakhs of people in Telangana.”
Telangana’s Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Union Labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya, deputy chief minister Mahmood Ali, and others were present at the celebrations.
Pat for Kavitha
Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan took the opportunity to appreciate Kalvakuntla Kavitha as a good politician, and as one who knows to speak according to the occasion. “ I always appreciated when she speaks in Parliament, as she puts in a lot of effort. When we went to European Parliament, she gave a good presentation of India, and the status of women here,” Mahajan said.
On a lighter note, Mahajan added that the Kavitha being clever, established relations with the Marathi community members so that they will back her wherever she contests elections.
Source: The New Indian Express