Publications
TAMA
Scholarships to Students in AP
- by T.L.S. Bhaskar (Hyderabad)
My immediate reaction when I first saw the advertisement was just disbelief, that someone so far away from our village would ever give a scholarship to us, more so to students like us who have cleared their standard X in Telugu medium from a government school. My happiness knew no boundaries with the letter inviting me to Hyderabad to receive the scholarship. The journey was made with ambiguous thoughts so much so that I had to ask my self questions such as- What is TAMA? What made them to choose us when the world outside is just carried away by the aura of private school education? In fact, why should they give us, how are we all related, and so on. In the end, it was highly refreshing to visit the state capital, which I never thought I would ever visit. It was all Greek and Latin to us at the Teluguone office, but we are received by staff there with open hands and humble smiles. I am very happy, very elated, and its truly inspiring to receive such an award, and this makes me to feel a proud Telugu, by birth and by schooling…Thank you…. This is Mr. V. Amruta Rao from Vyra mandal, Khammam district
Life has taken several turn arounds for students like Mr. Amrutha Rao and many others who had to experience several difficulties as it happens with most government schools- lack of proper facilities but with committed teachers. TAMA scholarships to standard X students who passed in Telugu medium from government schools in 2005 comes at a time when we Telugus as a community are trying reinvent ourselves on the relevance of our language in academic curriculum. It's a encouraging that TAMA executive committee has taken a positive initiative towards this, and have decided to extend the scholarship to students at Intermediate level from this academic year. A new trend has set in by TAMA.
Telugus have been migrating and settling overseas for centuries, and wherever they did so, they have not forgotten their ancestral origins. As part of their social commitment, many have in due course have contributed their lot to the development of the places of their origin, and they have done at individual or community level. It is nothing new that Telugus in the US have been doing their part in this context, but the initiative TAMA finds importance for the kind of cause it has devoted to, felicitating those who have cleared their standard X exams in Telugu medium from government run schools. As a personal attendee to the function, and hearing to the students speak on occasion, I really cannot put it in words here the heartfelt feelings expressed by the achievers. A new idea has born from the corridors of TAMA, and a new relationship sprouted between TAMA and the students. I opine more and more Telugu associations in the US and else where should initiate concrete plans towards establishing long term relationships with students pursuing academics in Telugu medium, and render support and HOPE.
TAMA Executive Committee feels credit for this effort goes to all the sponsors who involved in this noble cause. The Committee is thankful to staff at Teluguone office, and other participants.
Click the link to read more at TAMA website
http://www.tama.org
http://www.tama.org/educational.htm
http://www.tama.org/2005/events/tama_scholorships/tama_scholorships/index.htm
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