Here's why logical thinking matters more now than ever before! 

Selvin Sundharaj tells why children need to use logical reasoning to solve simple problems. Read more to find out
Selvin Sundharaj | Pic: Martin Louis
Selvin Sundharaj | Pic: Martin Louis

Children of this generation are extremely smart, but we tend to underestimate them. All they need is a tiny push to achieve greater heights,” says 63-year-old Selvin Sundharaj, a Chennai-based marketing manager turned entrepreneur. With an interest in working with the young minds of the society, Sundharaj set-up Spartan Educational Events and Services in 2007, conducting spelling bee competitions across the country, challenging students to expand their vocabulary.

But after conducting spelling bees for over nine years, Sundharaj strived to do more. Dealing with an education system that forces children to learn by rote rather than analyse and apply their minds, he wanted to offer students something that would make learning fun, and this led him to create a new challenge altogether consisting of logical reasoning questions.

“We put forth problems and they solve them. It is just application of the mind,” explains Sundharaj, who defines logical reasoning as solving simple problems using logical thinking. He spends months formulating questions that analyse the competency of every student. He also publishes preparatory books for classes I-VIII that are free for students who register for the competition.

I was pleasantly surprised when the parent of a class I participant wrote to me once, saying that this programme was going to help her child with the UPSC exam

Selvin Sundharaj,  Entrepreneur

 Conducting the first competition last year, students from across the city participated. Unfortunately, he did not receive the amount of support that he expected from the schools, but the enthusiastic participation of over 1,500 students reaffirmed his faith in this initiative and he continued to conduct such competitions. “I was pleasantly surprised when the parent of a class I participant wrote to me once, saying that this programme was going to help her child with the UPSC exam,” says Sundharaj, delightfully. The students seem to be more interested in the competition, as they don’t need to agonise over finding the answer, but tend to think logically.    

Experts say that, just as how clothing, food and shelter have become our basic need for survival, logical reasoning will soon be added to that list in the future

Sundharaj strongly believes that logical reasoning is imperative. “Analytical ability is a skill that each and every child should develop. Every situation in life should be analysed well to take the right decision. Logical reasoning helps children tune their mind to analyse everything, to find a solution in this complicated world that we live in,” he says. A child should be rational while taking decisions rather than emotion-driven, he states. Logical questions trigger curiosity in their mind which will eventually develop their questioning skills.

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