Chennai:Ā Age is not a requirement to wish people; all it needs is a good heart, remarked former State Information Commissioner Saradha Nambi Aarooran.
She was speaking on the occasion of Chettinad Vidyashram founder and mentor Kumararani Meena Muthiah’s 86th birthday. Students and staff of the school along with speakers Parveen Sultana and Sukhi Sivam
gathered to celebrate the event on the school premises, Wednesday.
The speakers recounted several incidents that they rejoiced with Meena Muthiah.
Addressing the gathering about one such incident, Saradha said, “Meena Muthiah was playing the role of Tamil poetess Avvaiyar and she forgot to render the dialogue as she was surprised when Lord Muruga, played by one of the former students, asked Sutta Pazham Venuma? Sudadha Pazham Venuma? Later he had to prompt the dialogue.”
She went on to speak about how teachers are respected and glorified. “Teaching is not a work, but a profession. There is no other profession on par with teaching,” she said.
Adding to it, Sukhi Sivam said, “Mata, Pita, Guru, Deivam is the hierarchy that we follow. If being a mother and father is not a work, then being a guru is also not a work. No parent would say I have been working as the child’s parent. Similarly, teaching is not a work, but a holy relationship.”
“Whenever I see elders, I only see a library. We have a lot to learn from them ,” said Parveen Sulthana.
She later went on to cite incidents from Mahabharata and concluded that cursing elders is like killing them and singing self-praises in front of them is equal to committing suicide.
On her part, Meena profusely thanked everyone and said, “A woman must treat her mother-in-law like her mother. I had not even completed my schooling when I was married. However, it was my mother-in-law who educated me and encouraged me to purse a professional degree.”