Thenikuzhu
When I stumbled upon Thenikuzhu for the first time, I was immediately captivated and eager to learn more. The name of the organization piqued my curiosity, as "Theni" happened to be the central character in my book The Myth of the Wild Gaur.
I wondered if the students at Thenikuzhu, like a swarm of diligent bees, worked together in their educational journey. To my amazement, this turned out to be true. Each of them welcomed me enthusiastically as they expressed their curiosity to learn more about me and my work.
Instead of a typical storytelling session, I chose to sit with them on the floor and have meaningful conversations about the themes in my book. These discussions were refreshing, with students often interrupting me with thoughtful and insightful questions.
One young girl asked why I was so fascinated by wild gaurs and what made them significant to me. Another wanted to know if my writing focused only on environmental themes or if I was involved in other forms of activism. Their questions made me pause and reflect on my role as an author and how I could contribute more to environmental causes.
At Thenikuzhu, I tried to conduct the discussion entirely in Tamil. At times, it was a challenge to find the right words to express certain ideas, but it also made the students feel more comfortable, allowing them to connect more deeply through their native language.
I am grateful to Ms. Meera for giving me this incredible opportunity. Her work at Thenikuzhu speaks volumes about her dedication to bridging educational gaps and supporting exceptionally bright students who may not always have access to private tutors and schools.
