“I’m the primary to grow to be a authorities official and the primary police officer from my household,” says S Manikandan, a scholar of ‘Puthiya Siragugal’, a police coaching academy. His voice brims with delight. This achievement isn’t just his personal, it’s proof of the dedication of Tholkappiyan Sivaraj, the person who made it potential.
Like Manikandan, over 400 youth have damaged the cycle of poverty and secured authorities jobs, due to Sivaraj, a 41-year-old police constable from Kappur, in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram.
On his two-acre farmland, he has constructed greater than only a coaching floor — he has created an area the place younger individuals, usually burdened by monetary hardships, can dream of a greater future.
The journey in the direction of turning into a policeman
Rising up in a small village with restricted alternatives, Sivaraj’s fascination with the police pressure started early. “I began observing cops once I was at school 10. I developed a love for the khaki uniform and dreamt of sporting it at some point,” he remembers.
Decided to pursue his ambitions, his household inspired him to prioritise schooling. In 2004, he moved to Chennai to finish his grasp’s in economics from Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Faculty. But, regardless of his tutorial pursuits, his purpose of securing a authorities job remained steadfast.
“I couldn’t afford teaching courses, so I needed to put together alone. I studied alongside my grasp’s coursework, and in 2008, I cleared my TNPSC (Tamil Nadu Public Service Fee) examination on my first try,” he says with delight.
Following his preliminary coaching in Pudukottai, Sivaraj was posted in Melmaruvathur, in 2010. However his journey didn’t cease at turning into a police officer — he wished to information others in the direction of the identical path. “I began coaching 33 college students for presidency exams, and to my shock, your entire batch handed,” he remembers.
Inspired by this success, he arrange a small coaching centre in Arasur, Kanchipuram, utilizing Rs 10,000 from his financial savings. As soon as once more, his college students cleared their exams and secured authorities jobs. This early success impressed him to ascertain ‘Puthiya Siragugal’ (which interprets to ‘new wings’ in Tamil) on a bigger scale in his hometown of Villupuram in 2015. And all of this was executed whereas he continued his full-time position as a police officer.
A ardour for educating
For Sivaraj, educating isn’t just a career — it’s a calling. “As a baby, I liked sharing information. I might train my juniors about present affairs and Tamil literature,” he says. His deep admiration for Tamil poets like Bharathidasan even led him to pursue an MPhil with hopes of turning into a lecturer.
Little did he know that his love for schooling would take a distinct, but equally fulfilling, path.
The goal of ‘Puthiya Siragugal’ was clear — to supply free coaching for presidency exams to youth from rural backgrounds. “Most of our college students come from households that depend on day by day wages. They can’t afford teaching or correct steering,” explains Sivaraj.
Many of those youth, missing steering and sources, had resigned themselves to work menial jobs that paid as little as Rs 4,000 monthly. “A authorities job can earn them at the very least Rs 25,000 — sufficient to help their households whereas giving them the dignity of serving the state or nation,” he says.
Serving to 400+ officers rise
At Puthiya Siragugal, college students obtain extra than simply coaching — they’re given a house. “We offer meals, shelter, and a cushty surroundings to allow them to give attention to their preparation — each bodily and tutorial,” says Sivaraj.
The academy is constructed on a two-acre stretch of extremely fertile farmland, which may have been used for agriculture. As an alternative, his father allowed him to transform it right into a coaching floor. “The land is good for farming, however my father noticed the larger function in what I used to be doing and supported my imaginative and prescient,” he shares.
The academy presents a rigorous preparation programme. It’s geared up with health club amenities, ropes for endurance coaching, and operating tracks. Over the previous 12 years, it has produced over 400 officers, who now serve within the police, income, labour, and administrative departments.
Sivaraj’s complete household is concerned in educating and shaping the scholars for the higher. “My brother, Sathyaraj, and I are lively in educating topics and bodily workout routines. My sister, Jeevitha, teaches typing and pc operations,” Sivaraj provides.
But, for him, success isn’t nearly securing jobs. “Sure, I’m serving to these youth discover employment, however my actual focus is on shaping them into good human beings with robust values and ethos,” he says.
From the footwear of a trainee
Manikandan, a mechanical engineering graduate, first heard about Puthiya Siragugal by a buddy in 2019. Not sure about his future after finishing his undergraduate diploma, he determined to fulfill Sivaraj.
“I wanted steering, and Puthiya Siragugal appeared like the best place. I skilled there for six months, staying on the facility your entire time,” he remembers. His day would start at 8 am and stretch until 10 pm, full of bodily drills within the morning, and topic classes all through the day.
“We used to have exams every single day on completely different topics, and the papers can be submitted by night, submit which we’d focus on the matters,” provides Manikandan.
“Sivaraj sir’s ardour in the direction of Tamil would make him share his information in the direction of literature and epics within the evening,” he remembers.
“We had been additionally taught typing and monetary administration as further expertise,” Manikandan, who has now secured a authorities job as a Nayak-ADSP typist in Ulundurpettai, Tamil Nadu, continues.
Wanting again, he’s grateful for the choice to hitch Puthiya Siragugal. “Sivaraj sir and his household took such excellent care of us. I by no means imagined I might clear the exams on my first try,” he says.
Impressed by his mentor, Manikandan now helps the schooling of three college students, serving to them construct the long run they as soon as thought inconceivable. “Sivaraj sir and Sathyaraj sir have been an inspiration to me,” he says, echoing the gratitude of tons of of scholars whose lives have been modified by this selfless policeman.
Bridging goals and actuality
Entry to free teaching for UPSC and TNPSC exams in rural areas is uncommon, however Sivaraj is making it a actuality. “Coming from a village, monetary constraints usually dictate what an individual can aspire to grow to be,” he says.
His academy is breaking this barrier, empowering younger aspirants to dream past their circumstances.
Whereas many college students journey to cities like Delhi for teaching, the excessive prices make such alternatives out of attain for many rural youth. Sivaraj is set to alter this. “I wish to prolong free coaching to extra villages, making certain that proficient people usually are not held again by their monetary state of affairs,” he says.
Authorities job exams like IAS and IPS are extremely aggressive, and failure may be disheartening. “Some college students lose hope after their first unsuccessful try and cease attending courses,” Sivaraj notes.
He believes that state-led initiatives may assist degree the taking part in area. “The federal government ought to introduce extra inclusive insurance policies to help college students from all backgrounds. We want devoted and moral people in public service,” he asserts.
With 63 college students making ready for upcoming exams in March, Sivaraj stays hopeful. His mission goes past securing jobs — it’s about shaping accountable residents who will serve their nation with integrity. Via Puthiya Siragugal, he isn’t just teaching college students; he’s constructing a future the place aspirations usually are not restricted by privilege, however fuelled by dedication.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All photos courtesy Puthiya Siragugal
