Profiles of Some Lifelong Learners

Profiles of some Lifelong Learners

Col Dr Bhaserkar Reddy – War Veteran cum Life Long Learner

(Entry added in Dec 2020)

Col Dr Bhaskar Reddy is a unique type of a Lifelong Learner among octogenarians. After 65 he has undergone 14 medical and health related courses – including full-fledged PG Diploma in Geriatric Medicine from IGNOU – and has qualified himself to be included in “Unique World Records”. His interests include – apart from medicine - Quality control and assurance, patient safety and management, medical ethics etc. He has an impressive array of certificates, awards, medals, mementos etc to display proudly.

Smt Sarojini Narasimhan

Name, Age, Contact etc

Mrs Sarojini Narasimhan, 82, Secunderabad Mobile: 9701119381

About this Learner: She is a Tamilian, founder member of Senior Citizens Forum, Recipient of State Govt Award for Service to Seniors

Courses or learning or teaching activities

• She did a email based course learning Sanskrit, just to appreciate religious / spiritual literature in Sanskrit.
• Now she is doing an online web (video) based  five year course called Atma Vidya taught by Swamy Omkarananda of Madurai. https://atmavidya.net.in All Sastras are taught.

Post Learning: Sharing, teaching, promoting etc

Spreads info on such courses to others

Profile of a Lifelong Learner

Sri Inder Mohan Bhalla

Name, Age, Contact etc

Sri Inder Mohan Bhalla, 74, Lives in Punjagutta

23413278 / 9849244480

About this Learner:  He is the past president of AOSC-H, Founder President of Lions Club of Secunderabad Probus, Founder of an NGO (Centre for Research & Development), Authorof a book on eradication of corruption

Courses or learning or teaching activities

• PG Diploma Journalism from Bharatya Vidya Bhavan;
• Learnt painting in Siri Inst of Painting Banjara Hills;
• Certificate Art Appreciation course JNTU

Post Learning: Sharing, teaching, promoting etc

Wrote a book after learning journalism; exhibited his paintings in many exhibitions and won prizes; has developed contacts with a number of renowned artists

Profile of a Lifelong Learner

Dr P Vyasamoorthy

Name, Age, Contact etc

Dr P Vyasamoorthy 77 Lives in Karkhana Secunderabad phone: 9490804278

About this Learner:  PhD in Library Science; past president of AOSC-H; Past VP of SCF; Author, Blogger, Web developer, maintains discussion groups, websites, blogs, author, librarian, homeopath, gerontologist   etc

Courses or learning or teaching activities:

Completed many online courses like:

1. Many Faces of Dementia. Univ College Of London. March 2017

2. Preventing Dementia. Univ of Tasmania – Wicking Dementia Research Centre. May 2018

3. Successful Ageing. Trinity College of Dublin. June 2017

4. Google Power Searching. Online Feb 2016

Inspiration: He says: “My Boss, Sri R Thillainayagam in Highways Research Station Madras in 1965, who was then in his fifties, had several degrees and diplomas. Now: Sri RN Mital – his experiential learning flexibility at 92 amazes me”.

Post Learning: Sharing, teaching, promoting etc

Disseminates info on courses for LLL through ISU3A email group; gives awareness talks on LLL; Promotes u3a and LLL

How to promote LLL among others – SCAs, RWAs, Individuals etc

•       Set up U3As and nurture them

•      Join ISU3A as a member and take part in discussion forum

•      Influence universities / colleges to start courses for seniors exclusively

•      Conduct learning sessions in SCAs / RWAs / OAHs

•      Spread awareness through media – TV Paper

•      Encourage Learners by recognizing them

•      Talk to gated communities, municipal corporations

Sri Avinash Lakare

AVINASH Lakare ISU3A Member LLL enthusiast Gerontology teacher

Read about him in his own words:

1. Could you please mention a couple of courses you have completed in recent years? -

Ans - On Line Courses – Life Long Learning

            1. 'Aging 101' by Georgia University, USA.- From University site.

2. 'Growing Old Around The Globe' by Penn State University, USA. - Coursera site -       Certificate attached for information.

            3. 'Learning How To Learn' by San Diego University, USA. by coursera

            4. 'Innovating In A Digital World' by Coursera.

            5. Understanding Dementia – Tasmania University - coursera

2. How did you get motivated? Who is your inspiration?

Ans - I learned computer handling when my both sons were studying procedure for applying to US universities for higher education. Then when I went through AARP papers with whom I am member from 2011, came to know about OnLine courses. And then through our U3A and encouraging Emails from Dr Vyasamoorthy. 

3. How / where do you get to know of what (courses) you want to learn? 

Ans - From various site but like Coursera site where we get variety and good number of FREE courses.

4. After completing some learning sessions do you share what you learnt & how? Giving lectures, writing articles or blog posts, tell others to sign up for subsequent courses etc?

Ans - I wish I should have done but to due to more other activities I can not give justice to my learning to give advocacy. I wrote for few magazines. 

5. How do you think we can promote LLL among the elderly?

Ans - By way of getting liking towards Digitization. Then to experience them for International virtual get together. It increases Information, Knowledge into the liking field while sitting at home and sparing few 1-2 hrs a day, when ever you wish.  

6. Anything else you want to say on your own?

Ans- Either U3A or AISCCON should promote for this LLL by way who are expert into this field and creating a solid digital network world of 'Elders Digital Team' (EDT) of desired people who wish to go for LLL.... U3A shold issue CERTIFICATES for courses done, similar to degrees given by university.... by taking fee for certificates for Printing etc.  

Its a marvelous activity which keeps LIVE ALL THE TIME..

Sri SV Ramana

Sri Ramana, 77, retired marketing genius, friend for all, writes humour and satire, member of many discussion groups including sss-global, ex-idl etc 9752093480

Courses completed recently

1) Strategies for successful ageing.

2) Good Brain, Bad Brain, and Parkinson's.

3) Logical and Critical Thinking. 

Q After completing some learning sessions do you share what you
learnt & how? Giving lectures, writing articles or blog posts, tell
others to sign up for subsequent courses etc?

Yes I do, but no talent for writing or giving lectures. The courses I recommend need not necessarily be useful only for Seniors. For instance I have recommended, "Navigating Misinformation: How to identify and verify what you see on the Web" to Kishore Gandhi whose daughter is selected for undergraduate Journalism Course in Cardiff University, UK.

Q How do you think we can promote LLL among the elderly? 

The way you do has Pyramid effect.

Q Anything else you want to say on your own? 

I must thank you for introducing to FuturueLearn Platform, and I am now addicted to it.

Sri Chepuri Shankar Rao    (75) 040 27813558 / 9848430914

He is currently secretary in ISU3A Zouth Zone MC

Motivated by a lecture on LLL, he has signed up for a short term course learning key board instrument at Shyama Gayatri Music Academy near Regimental bazaar. He also influenced another senior citizen to join him!

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Sri M Chidambara Rao

Sri Chidambara Rao is 83, president of Probus Club of Hyderabad, President of Association of Senior Citizens. He is an author concerned with societal issues like senior citizens, poverty begging etc. Learn about him in his own words:

I am glad you have taken up this exercise .I have undergone two courses on line of Wicking University of Australia on 1. Understanding Dementia and 2 prevention of Dementia.

I have also studied the provisions of Consumer Protection Act and of The Mental Health Act 2017.

My guidance towards this is information circulated by you and my zeal to know the basic legal  provisions in the areas of consumer protection vis-a-vis the advertising culture in general. 

I can  express better only through writing  articles  and not through talks. While I published a small book on begging in our country my articles on marriage, adverse effects of advertising culture and Roots of Reverse Oppression due to reservation policies are not published. 

One should have a zeal to learn for the sake of learning or acquire knowledge to solve a problem personal  or social to motivate to learn.

I am willing to be recorded on what's app.

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Sri MK Raina

Lifelong Learner and Teacher

Mr Raina is not only a learner but also one who conducts courses and creates awareness. He is a teacher cum learner. His info given below as received:

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The following efforts, however, have been   taken  in Haridwar under Senior Citizen Forum which can be taken under LLL.

1  Conducted a 5 days  Program on Graceful Ageing In June 2016 . About 30 elderly attended 

2 Conducted two Day Program for AISCCON Patrons  in March 2017 on  Ageing & Spirituality ,150 participated 

I have also tried to answer below your points seriatim:

1. The following on line courses have been done by me  in the past few years  from the University of Tasmania

a    Preventing  Dementia                              Completed in Aug 2016

      Repeat of the above course                    Completed in  Oct 2018

b,   Understanding Dementia                         Completed in  Nov 2016

       Repeat of the above course                    Completed in  July 2018

2. I was informed about this course by a mail circulated by Mr Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy

3  I was interested to know about this very much prevailing disorder among Elderly . Hence pursued this Course  on Dementia.

4  After the course, i have been raising the awareness by writing in magazines, speaking to members of the associations and advising elderly 

  friends to take up such useful on line courses.

5. I suggest that Universities are directed to encourage enrollment of Elderly in various relevant courses.

6. It is important that an Elderly has a desire to learn and in turn to keep his brain actively engaged. For this Elderly have to be convinced about the usefulness of LLL. 

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