JOHOR BARU: A rural Tamil school Science teacher in Kangkar Pulai, Gomathy Sankaran has over the years garnered dozens of awards, domestically and internationally.
Barely had news sunk in late May of her most recent laurel – a gold medal for a herbal hair oil she invented that restores hair growth – then Gomathy was notified of another award.
This time around she took honours as Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year announced by Global Education, a non-governmental organisation based in India which announced its list of honourees yesterday.
It comes on the heels of Gomathy's laudation at the 13th European International Innovation Competition in Ilsa, Romania, on May 20-22 on account of her herbal hair oil invention.
The same product had also won the innovation award at an International Innovation Competition in Canada last year.
As in the competition held in Canada, Gomathy's herbal hair oil product snagged a host of awards, at the event held in Ilsa, under ancillary categories having to do with intellectual property and green sensitivity.
The herbal hair oil product is now recognised as useful in restoring hair growth among users who have lost theirs due to illness or other causes.
The laurels for outstanding teacher and inventor come as huge satisfaction to the 48-year-old mother of two daughters who prefers to spark curiosity in her pupils about science and ecology than bask in the glow of international recognition.
Gomathy had followed what she calls a "4N-free" formula in making her herbal hair oil. This simply means her product does not use chemicals, anything toxic has no bleach and grey hair.
"My hair product is made from all-natural ingredients and I even sent it to the laboratory to get the test results to ensure it is safe for use," she said.
"To produce the oil I used henna leaf, mung bean, betel oil, coconut oil, fenugreek, sesame oil, and Acorus calamus – these are some of the 28 herbs that went into its making," she explained.
"Each ingredient will go through a different process of drying, powdering and boiling," she added.
About her invention and the sense of fulfilment it gave her, Gomathy said: "Personally, it means that it's awesome and that now I'm on the right path.
"I'm following my heart and doing what I love. I'm passionate about my innovation and work. Awards make me feel good.
"They are an acknowledgment of a job well done and justification for the agony, self-doubt, and the hard work that went into winning it."
"I'm so inspired by the students that I teach in my school," enthused Gomathy.
"In my opinion, it is this inspiration that makes the difference. When I heard I had won, there was nothing I wanted more than to go and teach a class, right there and then, because it made me remember the talent that sits every day at the tables in my classroom," she gushed.
"It made me realise I could make a difference. It inspired me to want to go and inspire them. I think it's a wonderful way to show appreciation for students and their efforts, in addition to raising morale," said Gomathy, who has been teaching for 24 years.