After every visit to Ampa Skywalk at Aminjikarai, I prefer to walk back home to Blue Star using the stretch from Anna Arch to Roundtana. But once I cross past the Anna Arch, I have to look straight into the horizon because a glance on the left would give an opportunity to glimpse the shopkeepers of the numerous shops lined vertically on side, brightly lit and a temptation to all passers by. After a few hundred quick strides, I cross this tantalising stretch of road, and breathe a bit easy. On one such trip, and after crossing this hurdle, a look on the left, got my eyes fixed on a large blue signboard on top of a retail shop that read ‘Sri Saravana Computer Centre, govt. recognised’. I stepped in and looked around to locate a computer or a typewriter, at least. But there was none. It resembled more of a stationery shop, replete with all kinds of papers, pens, recharge vouchers and writing materials. The owner, P Saravanan, was busy attending to heavy customer traffic at the moment, considering evening hours are usually a peak time for business. Taking a break from work, while his wife took charge, Saravanan replied, “I set up this institute in 1994 with one computer, three typewriters and one xerox machine. I had only three students at that time. But now, I manage 13 batches in a day of 150 students for typewriting alone. Among those who want to learn computer programmes and software, I have 50 students.” Saravanan started his institute only on the ground floor on rent, but has expanded across the top two floors in the building where typewriting and computer lessons are being given with the aid of one full-time and two part-time teachers. Saravanan explains, “I’ve a total of 30 typewriting machines, but only a few of them are Tamil systems, the rest are in English,” says Saravanan. “Only 10 per cent of the students here learn Tamil typewriting, despite Tamil data entry operators earning more than three times than of the English ones,” he adds. Asked about the reason for the limited number of Tamil typewriting learners, Saravanan reveals, “To type in Tamil is quite complex. Sometimes, you need three strokes to type one character in Tamil, presently there are 236 of them (characters). Besides, people don’t give much importance to the Tamil language these days.” The cost of learning typewriting at Sri Saravana Computer Centre is as low as `200 per month for a six-month course. After the course, the students need to give an exam to get a certificate from the Tamil Nadu government. “I get students as young as 11 to even 50-plus. Some elderly people can’t withstand the pressure of typing and withdraw mid-way,” he says.Though there were many competitors in the business of typewriting lessons in the area before, they have all faded out, says Saravanan. However, his institute continues to do brisk business. It’s the expansion and reinvention that Saravanan has carried out in about two decades that has helped him stay afloat. From a car-hire service, to computer horoscopes, xerox services and typewriting lessons; the Sri Saravana Computer Centre is certainly a multifaceted enterprise. The owner says proudly, “We are into production, service, rentals and commercialisation, all under one roof.” As part of his expansion plans, Saravanan wants to introduce a fast track typewriting course of 100 hours, where he would be able to give the certification himself. “Today’s youngsters want quick results. A concentration of vigorous lessons for a few hours daily will get the required speed and results,” he explains as he fills up a form for another budding typewriting learner, who became ‘Student no 151’ at his institute.
Comments
0 comment