Shyamala Subramanian Scholarship
Ode to alma mater
Hope Unlimited introduces a special scholarship: the Shyamala Subramanian Scholarship. It is special because this scholarship reflects the gratitude of octogenerian Shyamala Subramanian towards her Alma Mater, St Mary’s Girls H S School in Devakottai, Tamil Nadu.
The Scholarship
Every year, starting 2022-2023, Hope Unlimited will provide scholarships to five girl students from this school. In addition, a monthly living allowance will be provided to the girls for up to one year. The school will identify the five recipients of the Shyamala Subramanian Scholarship every year.
About Shyamala Subramanian
Shyamala Subrmanian was born in 1935 in Devakottai, a small town close to Madurai in the south of Tamil Nadu. In the early Forties, the St Mary’s Girls School was started in the town by the sisters of St. Joseph’s of Lyons. It wasn’t common for girls to go to school then. But the nuns coaxed and cajoled parents to send their daughters to school. Shyamala was one of the first students of St Mary’s School, finishing her SSC in 1952. She went on to train to be a teacher and later took up a government job at the post office.
Shyamala never forgot her alma mater. “Many times I think about the education I received in this school. I can never forget my headmistress, Sr. Marie Ernest. My family hesitated to send me to school run by nuns. But without the strong foundation given to me by Sr. Marie Ernest, I would have not got the confidence to build my life overcoming social constraints. The schooling was essential for my future and for my job with the Post and Telegraphs Department in Chennai at a time when very few women were in the workforce.”
Shyamala visited her school in 2012, 60 years after she left it and was the chief guest at the School Day celebrations.
As a thank you and to give girls from marginalised backgrounds an opportunity to believe in their dreams, Hope Unlimited has set up a specific annual scholarship in the name of Shyamala Subramanian for students of St Mary's HS School. Five girls from socially and economically marginalised backgrounds will be awarded scholarships and a living allowance every year.
Scholarships 2022 - 2023
The first five recipients of the Shyamala Subramanian Scholarship are: D. Sabitha, J. Lackshana, P. Jamina, M. Tishala and R. Sivarjani. We wish them a bright future and hope that these five girls can and will chase their dreams.
(February 2023)
Scholarships 2022 - 2023
P. Jamina Sri, 13
P. Jamina Sri, 13
P. Jamina Sri, 13
'I want to do college studies to become a teacher or bank officer so that I can be self-reliant and help my family and others who are in need.'
D. Sabitha, 14
P. Jamina Sri, 13
P. Jamina Sri, 13
'I want to become a nurse.'
M. Tirshala, 13
P. Jamina Sri, 13
J. Lackshana Sri, 14
'My mother died of cancer. She did not have money for treatment so I want to become a doctor and give free treatment for people who need it.'
J. Lackshana Sri, 14
J. Lackshana Sri, 14
J. Lackshana Sri, 14
'I want to become a nurse or agriculturist providing liaison and general counselling services in agriculture related fields such as livestock, crops, poultry and engineering.'
R. Sivaranjani, 11
J. Lackshana Sri, 14
R. Sivaranjani, 11
'I want to study well and become a teacher or a bank employee and be economically independent. At the same time, I want to help other students to come up in life.'
scholarships 2023 - 2024
V. Keerthana, 14
V. Keerthana, 14
V. Keerthana, 14
'I want to become a doctor and give treatment free of cost to people who are poor.'
R. Juslina, 11
V. Keerthana, 14
V. Keerthana, 14
'I want to study agriculture because I would like to provide counselling on crop management.'
K. Ashtritha, 14
V. Keerthana, 14
K. Ashtritha, 14
'I would like to become a doctor.'
S. Varshiya, 12
G. Kaleeswari, 12
K. Ashtritha, 14
'I want to become a nurse.'
G. Kaleeswari, 12
G. Kaleeswari, 12
G. Kaleeswari, 12
'I want to become a teacher or a bank employee and I also want to help other children to do well in life.'
