A happy- go- lucky fellow. That is the best way to describe Vijayakumara GB who is currently doing his final year of bachelors in engineering in computer science from the Shri Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Technology, Bantakal, Udupi, Karnataka. In between attending college and placement interviews, he also doubles up as a computer teacher to the students at the Jaya Smrithi Dhama AIM for Seva Chatralayam for Boys, Udupi, Karnataka.
Vijayakumara has been able to effectively multitask various responsibilities thanks to his exposure to discipline and value-based education at the Jaya Smrithi Dhama Chatralayam for Boys, Udupi, Karnataka from early on in life.
“Children can be moulded well when they are young. A strong foundation can be laid down at that time. As they grow older, they become very opinionated! In that context, AIM fir Seva is doing a great service to society. The Chatralaym model ensures academic as well as spiritual development of students from early on in life,” shares Vijayakumara.
For the first 11 years, Vijayakumara had a carefree and happy childhood in Jeevoor village, Vijaypuram district, Karnataka. He attended till Class 5 at a primary, Kannada medium school in his village. He hails from an agrarian family. His farmer father sows crops in the three acre family farm (jowar, wheat and maize) and also works as a farm hand in the neighbouring village.
Vijayakumara’s younger brother too resided at the Udupi Chatralayam for three years, from 2006 to 2008.
There was no opportunity to feel homesick as 20 of Vijayakumara’s mates from primary school joined along with him at the Udupi Chatralayam in 2013 (Class 6). While it was bonhomie at the Chatralayam, the first couple of years at school were tough as Vijayakumara and friends had switched from Kannada medium to the English mode of teaching. “While I managed well in mathematics thanks to the strong foundation provided to me in the primary school at Jeevor, studying social science and science in English proved a bit tough in Class 6 and 7,” confesses the young man.
But thanks to the progressive Chatralayam intervention early on in life, Vijayakumara’s resume now boasts of an impressive academic record. He scored 88.16% in his Class 10 public exam which he completed from the S.V.H. English Medium High School, Innanje, Udupi district, Karnataka. These figures moved up to 92.16% at the end of PUC (pre university college) that he completed from S.V.H. Pre University College, Innanje, Karnataka.
The IAS dream of childhood changed to IT (information technology) when Vijayakumara took up the science stream in Class 11. He got fascinated with computer science, physics and everything connected with the outer world.
To his credit, his team made it to the final round in a national level hackathon. He also won the third prize in a national level quiz competition.
He also has been involved in numerous interesting projects in the recent past. This included an agriculture database management system, tourism mobile application and a three dimensional graphic project using OpenGL. And as part of an internal project, from the computer science department, the students also developed a complaint registration Android App.
Vijayakumara’s career objective is to secure a good position in a reputable organization and to expand his skills as well as learning.
In the end, Vijayakumara thanks his coordinator (Swami Mokshananda Saraswati ji) and the AIM for Seva staff for their continuous support and encouragement towards bettering the life of students like him from rural India.
Best of luck Vijayakumara in your professional journey ahead.