In those days there was no birth certificate. My uncle, who was the then DEO, advanced my date of birth by 13 days before the actual date. I was not aware of the logic and reason behind this change, but the new DOB has made me what I am.
I studied classes 1-5 at the Panchayat Municipal school in a village near Trichy. From class 6 my parents moved me to a school in Trichy. We six siblings used to travel by train to school as my father was in the railways. After graduation, I worked as KG teacher for some time. Married at 21, with three children by 25, life was busy bringing up children, but the urge to work outside home kept increasing.
I completed my Montessori course and started working in a KG school. After 3 years of working, I wanted to teach higher classes. I had to have a B. Ed degree. When I was 35, I did my B. Ed from a reputed, regular college. After that I was a maths teacher for classes 6-10. Years rolled by and the desire of becoming a postgraduate became stronger. My daughter was married, and sons were into their jobs. Our House had only 3 people now (my husband, my mother in law and myself).
At 47, I took the opportunity to join M. Sc HRD Psychology from University of Madras as a regular student. My classmates were of my son-and-daughter’s age! After completing PG, I did a basic counselling course facilitated/delivered by Dr. Yamma. I completed the ACE (Academy of Counsellors’ Excellence) program from CCF and attended various workshops, seminars to enhance my skills.
Motivated by my husband, I started to participate in Masters Athletic Championship when I was 49 years old (meant for people above the age of 35). It consists of three levels - district, state & national. Every year we took part at the district and state levels and won gold medals in 5k walk, 800m, 1500m, 400m & 200m run, shot-put and long jump. This has been going on for the last 11 years. For the first time, this year I won medals at the National meet which was held in Chennai from 27 April-1 May 2022. It took some time for it to sink in that I’m now a National medallist. During my school days, I never used to take part in any sports. The credit for my entering sports at such a late stage in my life goes to my husband who has set an example.
I have been desperately wanting to do a yoga course. Opportunists always find a way through. It was easier than expected, at the age of 53 to complete a PG diploma in yoga from Annamalai University. It was an instructor course which helped me to be a yoga instructor & therapist. I use my yogic knowledge with my clients who come with depression, anxiety, stress and other psychological conditions. I have been able to treat the ladies from my colony for problems like thyroid, pulmonary congestion, cholesterol and post- corona problems.
In 2018 I did scuba diving in the beautiful sea of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The following year I scaled the Sigiriya rock in Sri Lanka which is 1,144 feet above the sea level. There are 1200 steps to the summit, roughly equivalent to climbing 60 flights of stairs. There are six stages of climbing, each with increasing levels of difficulty.
Since my childhood I was interested in dance, which I learnt mostly by watching and imitating, with no formal training. I used to help my younger sisters for their stage performances. I was chosen by teachers for dance in school cultural programmes during my school days. I have trained my students for dancing in the Annual day functions and house competitions, but I never gave solo performances in those days. Now I want to relive my younger days, and dance on stage. When I dance, I forget that I am a grandmother of 5. It feels so good to be on stage now, when I am 62 years old. I feel ‘age is just a number’. It is the fire in my belly that tells me always, ‘You Can Do It’.
Renuka Sankar
September 2022
