KOZHIKODE: The who's who of Malayalam literature has made it to the virtual classrooms of TIHSS, Naimarmoola in Kasaragod.
Unlike many who find the pandemic-induced online classes limiting, the Malayalam teacher at the school — K T N Radhakrishnan — has brought over 100 writers to the high school classes through small audio and video clips.
These include over two dozen writers whose works are part of syllabus and they have engaged with the students by providing first-hand the context and background of their works. The Class XII students at the school thus had legendary writer M T Vasudevan Nair himself explaining in a two-minute clip what made him write the short story 'Kuppayam' before they studied it. Again, they had film director Sathyan Anthikkad and actor Sreenivasan talking about the world of films before they started a lesson on film 'Kodiyettam'.
‘Writers agreed to give audio clips’
“When the classes shifted to the online mode, I felt the students were struggling to get a grasp. Before taking up the story `Randu Malsyangal’ by Ambikasuthan Mangad, who I have an acquaintance with, I asked him if he could address the students, and he gave me an audio clip explaining the story. The students were thrilled to hear him, and they started asking if they could hear the writer every time we started a new lesson," said Radhakrishnan, who hails from Karivellur.
He said the writers have generally agreed to provide short audio or video clips when they knew that they were meant for students. “We have to be patient though as many of them are busy in their engagements. As of date, we were lucky to get as many 138 famous personalities, including writers, actors, cultural leaders, sportspersons, among others, to talk to students. It has helped students develop a personal connection with them and also spark their interest in the lesson. Also, I now see students asking for books of writers for general reading after hearing them," he said.
Among writers who have become part of the online academic journey are T Padmanabhan, M Mukundan, C Radhakrishnan, K Satchidanandan, Sharankumar Limbale, C V Balakrishnan, M N Karassery, U K Kumaran, Priya A S and George Onakkoor, among others. Many of them have shared their thoughts with students through audio clips on special days and observances and anniversaries connected to literary figures. The late actor Nedumudi Venu, film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan, actors Mamukoya, KPAC Lalitha, Jagadish and Indrans -- from the film fraternity --have also provided such clips.
Radhakrishnan said many clips provided by writers to him have now found their way to online classes conducted by Malayalam teachers across the state.
