Srinivas Youngmens Association (popularly SYMA) has been rendering service to society since 1977.Through ‘SYMA Growth’ – SYMA has been providing quality tuition throughout the year free to select 110 students of X & +2.
Deepavali
‘the festival of lights’ is always enchanting – an occasion to wear new
clothes, eat sweets, burst crackers, be with friends and relatives – a
festivity which brings enjoyment….....to SYMA,celebrating Deepavali – was making people
happy .. .. .. we made our students and their parents happy and in the process,
we are happy !!
William Jefferson
Clinton served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993, to
2001. Prior to the presidency, he was the Governor of Arkansas from 1979 to
1981, and again from 1983 to 1992. A member of the Democratic Party, Clinton
was ideologically a New Democrat and many of his policies reflected a centrist
"Third Way" political philosophy. Clinton extensively toured Tamilnadu not
during Presidential days, but asan
ambassador of the United Nations tsunami relief programme that covered India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.The UN ambassador also toured the temporary
shelters and saw its facilities, including the psychological support center. He
visited an anganwadi and interacted the children there and spoke to a few
families. Later, addressing a press conference Clinton said he was very happy
with the level of cooperation between government agencies and NGOs. He was
curious to know how old was the Collector who was behind the neat organizing of
relief measures and was surprised to see a young 37 year old collector.
The festivity of
Deepavali, could be felt in the air even before a fortnight, when one walks
either in T Nagar area, where every shop be it selling Gold, silver or clothes
– is overcrowded – the entire area bustles with people jostling to buy more and
more.In our childhood, a small sum of
rupees spent would provide a bagful of crackers which would be our pride
possession of exhibit to friends and neighbours.
The reasoning of
festivals is to make people happy – sharing of happiness by being with the
people, sharing sweets and paying obeisance to elders.SYMA stands for all the social values.For creating a better tomorrow, we are
striving to provide quality education to poor students.Only education can uplift the poor to higher
echelons – we are creating the infrastructure and are striving to help the poor
children, [some of them - first generation students] by providing quality
tuition assistance throughout the year in organized manner.At our fulltime tuition Centre – SYMA Growth,
we are now training 115 students [X – Tamil & English medium; +2 Commerce
& Science Groups English] in our 11th year of operation [2018-19]
Today (Monday, 29th
Oct 2018) as the students entered, they were made to assemble in the front hall
of NKT Boys High School, little would have they expected what was to
follow.All parents had been invited for
today’s meeting as the students assembled at the main hall.At the end of the function, Happiness was
writ large on their faces and seeing them happy made us feel happy.
The
Chief Guest was Dr J Radhakrishnan, IAS, Principal Secretary to Govt – really
overwhelming with his simplicity and friendliness.Mr TK Mani, Managing Partner of Triads, our
regular sponsor was the other guest.After prayer in praise of Lord Parthasarathi, Secretary S. Sampathkumar
welcomed the Guests, spoke on ideals of SYMA, more specifically on tuition centre
SYMA Growth.In its 11th year
SYMA Growth nurtures more than 110 students mainly from the downtrodden
society.SYMA has been striving to
impart quality education and raise their standards through good education.
Among the many
posts that he has held, Dr Radhakrishnan is ever remembered for his laudable
role in providing relief when tsunami struck in Dec 2004.At the badly hit Nagapattinam, Radhakrishnan
as Collector of Nagapattinam oversaw the creation of a number of relief camps
and handled relief in exceptional manner.It was SYMA’s fortune to have a person of his stature, coming down,
talking to students and distributing gifts.He emphasized the need for motivation and doing things with dedication
in the World which offers multifarious openings in various fields. He wanted
students to excel in studies and in arts.While knowledge is essential, skills would ensure their reaching greater
heights, he said.He also emphasized the
need for cleanliness, good habits, cleaning hands and personal hygiene in
living healthily.He created awareness
on dengue and other diseases and requested everyone to keep the surrounding
clean, especially during rainy days.
He
was heard with rapt attention.He
advised all to take ‘nilavembu’ which has proven medicinal effects and in
ensuring this reach to all, he was the first person to drink a cup of
‘nilavembu’ water.
Mr TK Mani an
alumni of Anna University, joined TNEB and later started business of his own,
which is thriving today.He has been a
great philanthropist.Triads have been
supporting SYMA for long time now.
Today,
SYMA distributed gift packet to every student of SYMA Growth. The gift packet consisted of – readymade Shirt[for boys] / stitched chudidhar[for girls] ~ we had taken the measurements and ensured that they got
right size ..
o veshti & utharivam and saree& blouse for their parents.
SYMA was supported in this endeavour by Sri AMR
Kannan (our ex-office bearer, now in USA) Mr VA Seshadri [our member, now in
USA]; Mr TK Mani, Triads [ through our committee member Mr Srinisavan
(Fallam)].We thank our donors for
making this happen. The glee on the
faces of parents and students was very much evident. Mr S
Venkatadri, HM National Boys High School, Mrs Subashini, retd Asst VP of Hindu
Sr Secondary and other teachers of Growth were present. Elderly scholar Sri
TES Raghavan, who has written many books in Sanskrit, Hindi and other languages
and who has translated ‘Thirukural’ in Hindi, was a special dignitary and SYMA
felt happy in having scholars attending and blessing us.
Appreciations to Mr
Durai @ Seshadri, the Secretary for the painstaking arrangements, executed with
precision.Really lot of effort has gone
into this – right from taking measurements, procurement, storing, packing and
distribution.Special appreciations to
ever working Durai, TJ Ramani, SR Parthasarathi ~ VP Mani, S Parthasarathi
(Fallam) and others have assisted them. .
Thanks to KV
Srinivasan (Cheena of The Hindu) for bringing ‘people’s collector’ to the
venue.Mrs MK Prema as usual displayed
enthusiasm and keenness in making nilavembu kashayam and in ensuring
distribution. SYMA heartily thanks Manpower Group India and
Mr PV Venkatesan, for their support to our Educational Centre and Medical
centre for the year 2018-19.Come join us, support us ~ together we will strive to
ensure that the society is much better place to live.
One often gets queried
on when one should start doing social work, how much one should have to spend
for the society, and how much of time, one should devote weekly or monthly ..
.. ..there are ready answers – not only by looking at our founder members
and those who continue to serve SYMA and thereby the society – there are couple
of boys - studying 11th – yet coming daily to
our Tuition center and helping our coordinator Mrs Thara in her daily chores in
administration.Such commitment and zest
for social service is rare ~ SYMA found it necessary to honor them and they too
were recipients of ‘Deepavali Gifts’ for
Growth students.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
29th Oct
2018.
