Life of Srujan Koneru: When reel life imitates real life

ByPrasad Bhosekar

Few months ago, a Telugu film titled "Bharat Ane Nenu'' ( I, Bharat....) starring Telugu films' Superstar Mahesh Babu was released and the theme of the film was how a youngster ( Mahesh Babu ) returns from foreign land after studies to do something for his people. One of the aspects of this film was a critical take on the education system prevalent, especially in rural areas, and what can be done to improve it.

Taking this cue after getting inspired by the film and its protagonist, a 20-year-old American youngster of Indian ( Telugu ) origin has landed straight in Siddapur village in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana and has started taking classes for seventh and eighth standard students of a state government run Zilla Parishad High School on developing different skills like problem solving, social values, teamwork, communication, etc since July 2.

Born in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Srujan Koneru is currently pursuing M.I.S ( Management Information System ) from Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA. Born to Telugu parents, Srujan lost his mother one and a half years ago, who passed away due to pancreatic cancer. It was also his mother's wish that Srujan does something for Education back in India which has brought Srujan to Siddapur village.

An enterprising youngster, Srujan managed to get permission for his project "Empowerment Beyond Education'' from Telangana's Chief Secretary Mr.Shailendra Kumar Joshi, I.A.S., who then directed the Headmaster of ZPHS, Siddapur to facilitate Srujan in his endeavour.

Very humble and down to earth, Srujan doesn't flaunt American accent while preferring to speak in Telugu. Having come from a good family and good education background, it was a different experience for him when he landed in Siddapur's Zilla Parishad High School. Srujan immediately struck a chord with students who were curious to listen to him.

"The students were shy first but when I started addressing each of them with their names and spoke in Telugu they started opening up. I found them lacking in confidence, scared to ask questions and inhibition to speak in English," observes Srujan when he took first class for the seventh standard by giving them a questionnaire asking who was their role model.

"I was pleased when one of the students Mounika gave me a piece of paper wherein she stated her role model was a farmer and gave very good reasons as to why she feels so," discloses Srujan on how he broke ice with the students.

Without disturbing the regular academic classes at the school, Srujan is getting a couple of periods to start with. "It is interesting even for us to see a 20-year-old without any real experience of teaching connecting with our students so well. We too are observing as to how our students who are from arural and poor background are trying to learn life aspects from Srujan,'' says Manivardhan Reddy, headmaster of Zilla Parishad High School, Siddapur.

"Learning, communicating in English is one of the biggest problems of our students given their backgrounds. I have seen many students wanting to talk to Srujan in English and on his part he too is encouraging them,'' says Bathini Venkatesh who teaches English language to students in this Telugu Medium school.

Now, Srujan gets to teach atlest two periods in a day and students eagerly wait for his class. ``Srujan Sir told us he has come from America to be with us for a month. The way he tells different things are very interesting to us. He constantly encourages us to ask questions,'' according to Gowri Pallavi of seventh standard.

Srujan will be going to this particular school till the end of July and after that he will be preparing a report to encourage Indian Americans back in America to help such poor and deserving students in their own way and give back something to their motherland.