Beyond the Hills: A Visit to Arunoothumalai, Salem

I recently visited Arunoothumalai in the Salem district and met with students and teachers at the Government Tribal Residential School (GTRS). This was one of my first visits to a GTR School, and the experience was deeply enriching.

A Government Tribal Residential School primarily serves students from tribal communities living in the surrounding mountains and hills. The students here come from ten nearby villages: பள்ளிக்காடு, அறநூற்றுமலை, சிறுமலை, ஆலடிப்பட்டி, பெரிய வேலம்பட்டி, சின்னவேலம்பட்டி, கள்ளிக்காடு, கோவேரி காடு, and கண்கட்டி ஆலா. As you can imagine, the school’s remote hillside location makes it a challenging place to reach and consequently, not many teachers are eager to take up positions here.

The school has been in operation since 1967 and currently serves over 280+ students from grades 6 through 12. The Headmistress Shanthi Esther has been at the helm for five years, and her impact on the school is unmistakable. The campus is very well-maintained, and there is fresh air.

During my visit, I had a wonderful conversation with the Tamil teacher Perumal, who is also an archaeologist and history enthusiast. In his spare time, he introduces his students to archaeology  even though it isn’t part of the official syllabus. It’s exactly this kind of passion that leaves a lasting impression on young minds. The school’s dedication has translated into results too: they have achieved 100% pass rates in board exams for the past couple of years.

A significant part of this success is owed to the Tamil Nadu Foundation (TNF), South Florida chapter. When I spoke with the Headmistress, she offered a memorable analogy she compared TNF to the unsung heroes behind a film. In movies, only the hero gets the spotlight, but there are countless people working behind the scenes who make it all possible. That, she said, is exactly what TNF does for the school.

Five years ago, students had to travel to another location to write their board exams. Thanks to the collective efforts of the Headmistress and her team the school itself is now a recognized board exam centre.

I also had the chance to speak with Sathish, a TNF staff member, who spoke with genuine gratitude about his role and the work being done here. With the support of TNF, the school achieved 100% results in their board exams.

During my interaction with the students, I noticed they were a little shy about speaking up. The Headmistress picked up on this immediately. She felt that access to an audio system and more opportunities to speak on a microphone could go a long way in building their confidence. This struck me as an important and actionable observation. Nevertheless, the students here are very smart and aspiring.

Another small but telling detail: the compound wall is low enough that some students sneak out. It’s a reminder of the everyday challenges.

Interestingly, the Headmistress first learned about TNF and its programs through the Headmistress at Kollimalai, a lovely example of good work spreading through word of mouth. She was especially appreciative of the TNF teachers and the nutritious meals provided to students.

It was also great to learn about the efforts of S.Annadurai, Tribal Welfare Director. The headmistress had great things to say about Mr. Annadurai’s effort. One of the highlights of the visit was seeing students split into small groups, learning outdoors in the fresh open air. It was a joy to watch. Of course, this isn’t possible during the rainy season, which points to the need for more covered learning spaces. More broadly, I believe greater exposure to the wider world would benefit these students enormously  they have the talent and the drive; they just need the opportunities.

The school’s location is simply stunning  serene, surrounded by hills, and away from the noise of city life.

I’m grateful to the Tamil Nadu Foundation, its President Manivannan Periakaruppan, Arun Arunachalam, and the TNF Chennai Team for making this visit possible. A special thank you to Lawrence Maniraj and Surya Prakash, who accompanied me throughout the journey and captured these moments beautifully.

Thank you for reading.