Igniting Brilliance

A transformative two-day leadership programme in Chennai has redefined learning by replacing lectures with collaborative, activity-based engagement—igniting social consciousness and peer integration among students

- G PALANITHURAI

I came to this programme as my teacher asked me to participate, since it is a leadership programme that would be of much use for my career. When I came, I thought there would be lecture sessions over the two days, and it would conclude on the second day by issuing a participation certificate to the students. I have attended many such programmes along with my friends. Most of the time, I would be mentally absent from the programme despite my physical presence at the meeting. But this programme was totally different, as all eighty-three student participants were fully engaged—not as onlookers, but as active collaborators.

In the entire two-day programme, only two individuals delivered lectures, and for not more than thirty minutes. It was unique in many aspects. We were drawn from ten different colleges, both undergraduate and postgraduate. Since it was on leadership, we agreed to participate. A variety of activities was given to the students by dividing them into groups. While grouping, the organisers ensured that no group had members from the same college.

So, each group consisted of eight or nine students, all meeting one another for the first time. Over the two days, we went from being strangers to becoming close friends, and we participated enthusiastically in every activity. Many of the activities were conducted through games and role-plays.