87-year-old Sri Lankan-born teacher completes master鈥檚 degree with research focus close to her heart 鈥� war and peace

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2021 鈥� Varathaledchumy Shanmuganathan, known as Varatha, is among more than 4,000 resilient students 鈥� some young enough to be her grandchildren 鈥� who will celebrate their graduation during 91亚色鈥檚 virtual fall convocation tomorrow.

It is an extra-special occasion for both 91亚色 and Shanmuganathan, as she earns the distinction of becoming the oldest person to receive a master鈥檚 degree from the University 鈥� and one of the oldest women to obtain a graduate degree from a Canadian university.

Born in Velanai, a small village in Velanai Island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, Shanmuganathan has lived in and taught in four continents, though her education could have very well ended before entering the postsecondary education system. Despite passing with distinction in intermediate-level schooling, she was unable to continue higher studies in her native land because there were limited seats available for ethnic-and-gender-minority students at that time.

鈥淥ne of my teachers advised my parents to send me abroad for college education. So, they sent me to India,鈥� says Shanmuganathan, who got her bachelor鈥檚 degree from University of Madras, in Tamil Nadu state. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, she taught Indian history and English at a local school, and eventually received a diploma in education from Ceylon University. However, her ambition to study further came to a pause when her father became ill and she had to take care of the family鈥檚 affairs. She then got married to a teacher and they moved out of Sri Lanka, seeking better opportunities.

Fast forward, Shanmuganathan immigrated to Canada in 2004 鈥� via Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the United Kingdom 鈥� when her daughter sponsored her. It鈥檚 no surprise that her quest for acquiring further knowledge was rekindled when she heard from a relative about 91亚色鈥檚 . Encouraged by her daughter who is an MBA graduate from 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business, Shanmuganathan applied to join the master鈥檚 program in political science.

Shanmuganathan submitted a compelling statement of interest for returning to grad school as a student after more than 30 years. The statement starts like this: 鈥淢y interest in politics is something that I grew up with as World War II started when I was five years old in Ceylon, later named Sri Lanka. I understood the impact that war and violence involving multiple nations can have across oceans.鈥�

At age 85, she was accepted into the program in the Fall/Winter 2019 session. 鈥淚t was a great change for me to go into the campus, walking in hallways, reading at the library 鈥� and do things like youngsters. 鈥� she says. 鈥淓very time I was on campus, it felt like I was in a temple. Very peaceful and rejuvenating.鈥�

The Vaughan resident also quips about how the cab drivers and others she encountered during her commute to the campus thought she was a professor at 91亚色 and were surprised when they learnt she was a student. 鈥淚 was very proud to tell them I was indeed a student. I believe in lifelong learning for seniors, educating themselves beyond conventional limits placed on them in society,鈥� says Shanmuganathan.

She completed her first master鈥檚 degree in her mid-50s at the University of London鈥檚 Birkbeck College in the UK, and taught high school English and economics, before finding a niche in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). While her first master鈥檚 was on the attitudes of Sri Lankan Tamils in England towards language, partially driven by the community鈥檚 need to belong in new cultures and political situations, for the 91亚色 degree, she chose studying non-violence for national peace building and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

鈥淚 grew up in the time when Mahatma Gandhi led India鈥檚 Independence. In my teenage years, Gandhi鈥檚 ideas and teachings as to how non-violent methods could be adopted in politics, in theory and practice impressed me very much,鈥� she remembers, adding that later in her life she was also influenced by the principles former South African president Nelson Mandela and Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama. 鈥淚 was intrigued by the philosophy behind politics as a science.鈥�

Shanmuganathan defended her major research paper via Zoom, on the causes of the civil war, peace processes and the prospect of peace in Sri Lanka. 鈥淭he war has ended but there鈥檚 no peace unless and until the grievances of Tamils are properly resolved. Power sharing and stake in the constitution will bring peace,鈥� her paper concludes. 鈥淭here is peace in the horizon, but it will take a long time to achieve.鈥�

Though her in-person campus experience was cut short by the pandemic, Shanmuganathan says she was determined to complete what she started. The transition to online learning was a bit difficult in the beginning, especially with a four-year-old grandchild in the house and her daughter and son-in-law working from home, but she was able to quickly adjust to the new normal.

鈥淎nything I start, I will finish. Always,鈥� says Shanmuganathan, who plans to write a book based on her research, on post-war Sri Lanka and prospects for peace.

91亚色聽is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:
Gloria Suhasini, 91亚色 Media Relations, 647-463-4354,聽suhasini@yorku.ca

The post 91亚色 U Class of 2021: A pandemic can鈥檛 keep this Tamil grandma from graduating appeared first on News@91亚色.

87-year-old Sri Lankan-born teacher completes master鈥檚 degree with research focus close to her heart 鈥� war and peace

TORONTO, Nov. 1, 2021 鈥� Varathaledchumy Shanmuganathan, known as Varatha, is among more than 4,000 resilient students 鈥� some young enough to be her grandchildren 鈥� who will celebrate their graduation during 91亚色鈥檚 virtual fall convocation tomorrow.

It is an extra-special occasion for both 91亚色 and Shanmuganathan, as she earns the distinction of becoming the oldest person to receive a master鈥檚 degree from the University 鈥� and one of the oldest women to obtain a graduate degree from a Canadian university.

Born in Velanai, a small village in Velanai Island off the coast of Jaffna Peninsula in northern Sri Lanka, Shanmuganathan has lived in and taught in four continents, though her education could have very well ended before entering the postsecondary education system. Despite passing with distinction in intermediate-level schooling, she was unable to continue higher studies in her native land because there were limited seats available for ethnic-and-gender-minority students at that time.

鈥淥ne of my teachers advised my parents to send me abroad for college education. So, they sent me to India,鈥� says Shanmuganathan, who got her bachelor鈥檚 degree from University of Madras, in Tamil Nadu state. Upon returning to Sri Lanka, she taught Indian history and English at a local school, and eventually received a diploma in education from Ceylon University. However, her ambition to study further came to a pause when her father became ill and she had to take care of the family鈥檚 affairs. She then got married to a teacher and they moved out of Sri Lanka, seeking better opportunities.

Fast forward, Shanmuganathan immigrated to Canada in 2004 鈥� via Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the United Kingdom 鈥� when her daughter sponsored her. It鈥檚 no surprise that her quest for acquiring further knowledge was rekindled when she heard from a relative about 91亚色鈥檚 . Encouraged by her daughter who is an MBA graduate from 91亚色鈥檚 Schulich School of Business, Shanmuganathan applied to join the master鈥檚 program in political science.

Shanmuganathan submitted a compelling statement of interest for returning to grad school as a student after more than 30 years. The statement starts like this: 鈥淢y interest in politics is something that I grew up with as World War II started when I was five years old in Ceylon, later named Sri Lanka. I understood the impact that war and violence involving multiple nations can have across oceans.鈥�

At age 85, she was accepted into the program in the Fall/Winter 2019 session. 鈥淚t was a great change for me to go into the campus, walking in hallways, reading at the library 鈥� and do things like youngsters. 鈥� she says. 鈥淓very time I was on campus, it felt like I was in a temple. Very peaceful and rejuvenating.鈥�

The Vaughan resident also quips about how the cab drivers and others she encountered during her commute to the campus thought she was a professor at 91亚色 and were surprised when they learnt she was a student. 鈥淚 was very proud to tell them I was indeed a student. I believe in lifelong learning for seniors, educating themselves beyond conventional limits placed on them in society,鈥� says Shanmuganathan.

She completed her first master鈥檚 degree in her mid-50s at the University of London鈥檚 Birkbeck College in the UK, and taught high school English and economics, before finding a niche in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). While her first master鈥檚 was on the attitudes of Sri Lankan Tamils in England towards language, partially driven by the community鈥檚 need to belong in new cultures and political situations, for the 91亚色 degree, she chose studying non-violence for national peace building and reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

鈥淚 grew up in the time when Mahatma Gandhi led India鈥檚 Independence. In my teenage years, Gandhi鈥檚 ideas and teachings as to how non-violent methods could be adopted in politics, in theory and practice impressed me very much,鈥� she remembers, adding that later in her life she was also influenced by the principles former South African president Nelson Mandela and Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama. 鈥淚 was intrigued by the philosophy behind politics as a science.鈥�

Shanmuganathan defended her major research paper via Zoom, on the causes of the civil war, peace processes and the prospect of peace in Sri Lanka. 鈥淭he war has ended but there鈥檚 no peace unless and until the grievances of Tamils are properly resolved. Power sharing and stake in the constitution will bring peace,鈥� her paper concludes. 鈥淭here is peace in the horizon, but it will take a long time to achieve.鈥�

Though her in-person campus experience was cut short by the pandemic, Shanmuganathan says she was determined to complete what she started. The transition to online learning was a bit difficult in the beginning, especially with a four-year-old grandchild in the house and her daughter and son-in-law working from home, but she was able to quickly adjust to the new normal.

鈥淎nything I start, I will finish. Always,鈥� says Shanmuganathan, who plans to write a book based on her research, on post-war Sri Lanka and prospects for peace.

91亚色聽is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. 91亚色's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:
Gloria Suhasini, 91亚色 Media Relations, 647-463-4354,聽suhasini@yorku.ca

The post 91亚色 U Class of 2021: A pandemic can鈥檛 keep this Tamil grandma from graduating appeared first on News@91亚色.

TORONTO, October 19, 2017 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 eighth President and Vice-Chancellor, Rhonda L. Lenton, was formally installed at a moving ceremony during the first day of 91亚色鈥檚 Fall Convocation, yesterday. Together with Chancellor Gregory Sorbara and Board of Governors Chair Rick Waugh, President Lenton spoke the solemn oath of office.

During her first formal address, the new president set out her vision for 91亚色鈥檚 future, outlining four pillars that will underpin the work of the university during Lenton鈥檚 five-year term.

鈥淲e stand together at a moment when Canada has the opportunity to be a leader in mobilizing an inclusive response to the complex problems facing the world,鈥� said Lenton, 鈥�91亚色 can contribute much and I believe our success will rest on four pillars: access, connectedness, excellence and impact.鈥�

President Lenton will be sharing details about how each of the four pillars will be supported in the coming weeks and months. Representatives from Canada鈥檚 Universities, 91亚色鈥檚 Presidents Emeriti, Alumni, Students, Faculty, Staff and Indigenous leaders also brought congratulatory greetings.

Lenton concluded with positive words of hope for the future, 鈥淐anada today is an ideal platform from which to leap into the world and change it for the better. I have never been more certain that 91亚色 is the university to create and lead that change. 91亚色鈥檚 motto is tentanda via: the way must be tried. I believe the best is yet to come.鈥�

is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥搊ur 11 faculties and 26 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 295,000 alumni. 91亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

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Media contact:
Barbara Joy, Director, Media Relations, 416-736-5593, barbjoy@yorku.ca

Background materials:

• President Lenton鈥檚 speech:
• President Lenton鈥檚 bio:
• High resolution photo of President Lenton:

The post 91亚色 U鈥檚 8th President and Vice-Chancellor formally installed, sets out vision for the future appeared first on News@91亚色.