First letter from
Anne Dayanandan in which she writes about Sheela, one of the students at
Ewart College
Anne M.
Dayanandan
Box 37, East Tambaram
Chennai 600 059
INDIA
anne.daya@gmail.com
"Please
call me Sheela," Jothilakshmi told me. "After Baptism,
Sheela is my name. I don't like the name Jothilakshmi anymore."
Sheela is studying Commerce (Business) in CSI Ewart Women's Christian
College, in her second year. She has a goal for her life that makes
others sit up and take notice: "My aim, she softly says, is preaching
the name of Jesus Christ all over the world." And she genuinely
writes, "Thank you for helping my life."
Sheela is one of the 60
residential students at Ewart College with whom I work. She sings
Carnatic (classical south Indian) Christian music and is learning to
play tabla, the classical drum of India that is used often with Tamil
Christian music. Music lessons are on Wednesdays, when she joins with 15
other young women and their teacher Mr. Nithiyanandan for a fun session
learning the tabla strokes, singing and playing. Other students learn
keyboard and guitar, all part of the scholarship program. Mondays are
for karate class, and Sheela is one of the most enthusiastic leaders.
She is bold, but without this opportunity to study at Ewart College on
scholarship, she might be working in the fields and never have the
chance to pursue her deep calling to be a pastor.
CSI Ewart Women's
Christian College is a young college founded just 9 years ago by
Madras Diocese of the Church of South India. The church leaders had
in mind how their own mothers could not study, and how they benefited
from missionary-founded Christian hostels when they were students. Ewart
College fills the need for access to Christian higher education. The
College is located in Melrosapuram, a Christian settlement founded by
Scottish Presbyterians in 1893, located 50 km south of Chennai city.
The residence hall
(called a hostel) is now in its third year, and makes it possible for
students from villages to benefit from studying as well as living
together. In the process, their lives are being transformed.
Education for these women is a matter of justice. After centuries of
oppression in the caste system of India, after decades of denial of
access to education beyond lower grades, rural Christian young women in
Madras Diocese now have the opportunity to earn a precious college
degree. The road to becoming a pastor is even longer, but Sheela has the
determination and desire to go where few others are willing.
The mission of Ewart
College includes equipping women 'to meet all challenges of gender
and other discrimination'. The vision is to build 'a community where
learning will transform, sensitize and inspire everyone to challenge the
structures that divide people and where truth will set free people from
inhuman and superstitious beliefs.' In action, Sheela learning tabla and
karate cuts across all gender barriers and challenges numerous
structures. Her ambition in ministry, her music, her sport--all
represent former 'male' areas in life here. But to Sheela, that doesn't
matter at all. Karate gives her confidence, and music gives her
pleasure. She is young, she is excited to be studying and forming her
life. She feels specially blessed and wants to share God's blessings
with others. And I feel privileged to work with her, to arrange for the
classes, to organize and teach the intensive English summer camp for
Sheela and her classmates, and to help her speak English. Daya and I
were happy to visit her village home 4 hours journey from the college
and meet her family. I am glad we are able to encourage her, to pray for
her and simply to be part of her life. I can't help but be proud of her.
For 20 years, I served
at Madras Christian College and built up Campus School and the Archives
of the College. Now I have this wonderful new assignment directly
serving the Diocese of Madras, Church of South India. I am
working to develop the scholarship and residential program of CSI Ewart
Women's Christian College. I am also establishing a new Center for
Church History (archives) for the Diocese. Whatever experience and
training I have had in the past, all of them seem to be coming together
to help me now! God has a means of building and using our talents in
ways we cannot anticipate.
Please pray for the
students of Ewart College, who like Sheela, are in need of support.
We welcome overseas volunteers. For more details, please contact
me. I would really appreciate hearing from you and sharing more
with you. Your participation in the lives of our students would be
wonderful.
Family notes:
Kavin completed his MA in South American history from the University of
Pittsburgh and after half a year in Fortaleza, Brazil he is now working
on his PhD. Selvi Ruth completed her BA in Psychology from Scripps
College, Claremont CA and is working in Oakland CA. (www.compensation.com)
Daya is now Emeritus Professor at CSI Ewart Women's Christian College
and is speaking, writing, teaching, delivering Endowment lectures,
serving Madras Diocese and several trust organizations. Less travel, but
plenty to do. As we often span 3 continents, we depend on our computers
to keep in touch.
May God bless each of
you and your loved ones,
Anne and Daya
