IAS Coach recommends 'auto suggestion' for success

A professor of political science in a government college, who has helped several youth enter the civil services through his free coaching classes at Coimbatore, was awarded The Weekend Leader – VIT Unsung Hero of Tamil Nadu Award at a function held last week in VIT University, Vellore.

The Award given jointly by The Weekend Leader and VIT Vellore is presented to some of the inspiring individuals featured in The Weekend Leader under the Unsung Heroes of Tamil Nadu series.

Prof. P Kanagaraj (centre) receives The Weekend Leader - VIT Unsung Hero of Tamil Nadu Award from Dr D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School. Also seen is P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader (Photos: H K Rajashekar)

 
P Kanagaraj, an associate professor at the Government Arts College, Coimbatore, conducts classes in general studies and political science for civil service aspirants at a Corporation building daily for about two and a half hours in the evening and for a longer duration on Sundays.

Two of his students first made it to the IPS in 2008. Nine years later, 70 of his students have got into the civil services – including 27 into IPS and 17 into IAS.

Dr D Ashok, Dean, VIT Business School, presented the award to Prof Kanagaraj, who later in his address spoke on how he prepared his students to clear the tough UPSC exams.

Motivating the students to set goals and stay positive, he said an effective strategy they could adopt for success was ‘auto suggestion’ – by which they would list their goals and say it aloud before they go to bed and repeat the same in the morning after they wake up.

Kanagaraj spoke on adversity management and staying positive to achieve success

“Even while you sleep, your sub-conscious stays awake repeating the goals,” he said, stressing on the importance of cultivating a positive image of oneself.

Kanagaraj said he trained his students on ‘adversity management’ to cope with difficult situations and recalled how cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar batted bravely despite getting hit on the head during his first tour of Pakistan spurred on by a placard held by a Pakistani spectator that taunted him as a kid.

“Tendukar had recalled that moment when he decided to get back to the crease and carry on with his batting as his most memorable moment,” said Kanagaraj.

The awardee with the faculty members and students of VIT Business School

He added that the defining moment in one’s life depends on “whether the moment defines you or you define the moment.”

Dr. N Jayasankaran, Advisor, VIT Business School felicitated the awardee, who later interacted with the students in a session moderated by P C Vinoj Kumar, Editor, The Weekend Leader. – TWL Bureau