Shruthy Pradeep’s CV is intimidating - taek wondo, kalaripayattu, veena, flute, thiruvathira, bharathanatyam...the almost 21 year old seems to have done everything. “Initially I used to find it tough, going to all these classes. But now, I am grateful that I am going to these - these are very relaxing and help me unwind,” she says.
She has won a number of prizes in competitions, be it music, dance or martial arts; the latest feather in her many-feathered cap is participating in the International Youth Exchange Programme, 2016, held in Ha-Long Bay, Vietnam in October. Shruthy was part of the Indian contingent.
Pushed by parents as a young girl, she has always been interested in extra-curricular activities. Each day of the week was planned in advance, there was some class to attend.
“I firmly believe that learning other skills, besides academics, is crucial to the all-round development of an individual; this is why my children attend these many classes. Learning music for instance is good for the brain” says Shruthy’s father Pradeep, a businessman from Thoppumpady. Her mother is a homoeopath, Dr. Bindu and she has a younger brother. Pradeep has been criticised, he admits, for pushing his children and has been accused of being ‘too harsh’. “It is not about being too hard on the kids, I see it more as guiding the child, showing the way. After all, as parents, we ought to give the child an option - something outside academics.”
Shruthy nods in agreement. “Today when I look back on the years of attending various classes, it has paid off. Because I was familiar with other things - music and dance for instance - I was able to be part of the Youth Exchange contingent.” Going to Vietnam, not only did she make many friends from across then country, she also met peers from other countries.
The National Cadet Corps, she is part of the air wing, happened only after she reached college, St. Albert’s College. Since then, she says, she has attended several NCC camps across the country, each a new experience than the last one. Some have been crazy, like the time when she went to a camp, in a remote part of the country, which had no toilets. “All of these have been learning experiences.” Notable among the camps she has attended are - the All India Vayu Sainik camp (2014, Bengaluru), Best Cadet Camp (2015, Aluva), Republic Day camp (2016, New Delhi), South Zone Shooting Capsule (2016, Nammakkal), and Inter DTE Shooting Championship (Asansol).
“All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my teachers and all those who have guided me.” Teachers help her with lessons which she misses out because of her camps. She has been a topper in school, Navy Children’s School and St. Teresa’s HSS, never comprising on academics for extracurricular activities, taking the two along.
In her final year of her graduation, in economics, she is in two minds about which route to take - the services or the Civil Services. Either way, as of now it looks like her future lies in the uniform - olive green or khaki - serving the people.
