Sunil Kumar PV, a confidential assistant to the assistant collector at Ernakulam district collectorate, will be felicitated on Monday for his unlikely role as an ambassador of the state’s language
“I joined the collectorate in 2010. Since then, 17 assistant collector trainees have been posted here, 14 of whom were non-Malayalees. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news.
This is their first posting after completing IAS training,” said Sunil, who is based in Bolgatty. Though the test is relatively simple, the limited time available to learn the language makes regular training essential, he said. So, we start with the alphabet and gradually move to words, sentences and conversations,” he said. The focus has now shifted more towards spoken Malayalam and everyday conversations,” he said. So, apart from preparing them for the examination, we practise conversations and the construction of everyday sentences,” he said. Pronunciation, he said, is among the biggest challenges for those learning Malayalam. It makes learning easier,” he said. He said the officers are generally aged between 25 and 28 and treat him with respect, addressing him as “Sunil ji”.
Usually held in Jan or Feb, the examination has reading, writing and oral components. Candidates must read a short passage and answer questions in Malayalam during the viva. “For candidates from states such as Maharashtra and Bihar, learning Malayalam from scratch can be difficult. Over the years, Sunil’s teaching methods have evolved, with technology changing how officers approach the language. “Officers these days have a basic understanding of reading as they learn on their own using AI tools. The officers attend lessons during office hours at the collectorate. For Sunil, however, the lessons go beyond preparing them for an examination. “People may approach them with different problems. The officers should be able to understand what they are saying. Of the officers he has trained, five were from Rajasthan and four from Maharashtra. Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka accounted for one each. Sunil fondly remembers teaching Pranjal Patil, India’s first visually impaired woman IAS officer. Words that sound similar to learners can have entirely different meanings in the language. “Sometimes they tell me that a particular word exists in Hindi. I use that similarity to connect it with the Malayalam word. Most of his students continue to stay in touch and remember to wish him on festivals. Download the TOI App.
Earlier, I used to make them read Malayalam newspapers for one or two hours a day.
Sunil first assesses each officer’s proficiency. Those unfamiliar with the script start with the alphabet before progressing to words, sentences and conversations.
Kochi : When Sunil Kumar PV, an English teacher with over 16 years of experience, secured a govt job at Ernakulam district collectorate, he never imagined he would spend the next 17 years teaching Malayalam — and that too to IAS officers. A confidential assistant to the assistant collector at the district collectorate, Sunil has taught Malayalam to 14 IAS officers. Kerala-cadre officers must clear a Malayalam proficiency test conducted by Kerala Public Service Commission , which assesses their ability to read, write and converse in the language at approximately Class V level. Most arrive with a basic knowledge of the alphabet from their training in Mussoorie. Sunil uses primary-school Malayalam textbooks to help them prepare. All the non-Malayali officers he has trained have cleared the departmental test. He is currently coaching the latest trainee, from Bihar, who is scheduled to take the examination next Feb.
Today, bureaucrats from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka can converse in Malayalam, thanks to his lessons. As Keralam celebrates its 70th formation day, the Ernakulam district information office will felicitate Sunil for his unlikely role as an ambassador of the state’s language at a function on Monday.