Activist teaches Puzhal prison inmates for free

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It was during his school days that S. Rajendran realised that he should do something for the society.
Even as a 14-year-old boy, he used to advice his classmates that they should not bunk classes and if he happened to see boys outside he would bring them with him to school.

“My parents were illiterate and we were first generation learners. I used to walk quite a long distance to reach my school in Ninniyur village, Ariyalur district,” said Mr Rajendran. Though he managed to pass till Class V, he had to spend two years in each class from standard VI. “It took 10 years for me to finish schooling till Class X but I could not pass the tenth standard even after two attempts,” smiles Mr Rajendran who now teaches inmates of the Puzhal prison free of cost.

After Class X, he took up farming to educate his siblings. “Back in the village I used to educate farmers on the latest trends in agriculture,” said Mr Rajendran, who came to Chennai 20 years ago to start a business. “I couldn’t succeed in business but life gave me enough experiences and I get satisfaction by teaching prison inmates,” says the 51-year-old social worker.

His friends Mr Jayaseelan and Mr Janathipathi took him to a seminar in 2007 where he was given an opportunity to talk. His speech was so inspiring that the then Tiruvallur Collector Mr Rajendra Kumar asked whether he would teach the inmates of Puzhal prison.

Since 2008 he has been teaching Tamil to jail inmates and the pass percentage is 100. Though Mr Rajendran received pay for just two months, he continued teaching even when it was announced that he would not be paid.

Talking about his experience of teaching, Mr Rajendran recalls, “Once I taught Thirukkural in class and said that if teachers had taught them Thirukkural with the meaning it conveyed and if students had understood the verses without any intention to memorise for the sake of getting marks, then it would not be necessary for them to come here. To my surprise, there were three retired teachers at the class and they told me what I said was true.”

Mr Rajendran can be contacted on 9445291288.