Chennai: Dr M A M Ramaswamy Chettiar Charitable Trust presented the birthday commemoration awards in the names of Dr Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar and Kumararajah M A M Muthiah Chettiar at an event in Kumararajah Muthiah Auditorium, Chettinad Vidyashram School Premises, Chennai, on Sunday.
On the occasion, the awards were presented by Kumararani Meena Muthiah to Tamil scholar and former professor of Alagappa University, Rama Ramanathan, Hope Charitable Trust received by its founder Nagarani, and Jeevodaya Public Charitable Trust received by its member Dr Ponni, for their immense contribution to society.
Dr Raja Sir Annamalai Chettiar’s 138th birthday commemoration award and a cash award of Rs 3 lakh is given every year to Tamil scholar for his / her contribution to Tamil literature and this year it was presented by Meena Muthiah to Rama Ramanathan for his expertise in Silapathikaram.
“I am happy to receive this award in the name of Annamalai Chettiar. My days at Annamalai University is an unforgettable one. Annamalai Chettiar’s contribution to Tamil also can’t be forgotten. I am continuing my research in Silappathikaram and this cash award will help me immensely. I can talk for years about Silappathikaram and if given a chance I can even come to Chettinad Vidyashram and give a lecture about Silasppathikaram to students,” he said.
MAM Ramaswamy Chettiar’s birthday memorial prize and a cash award of Rs 2 lakh was given to Nagarani, founder of Hope Charitable Trust, for mentally challenged which has its centre in Ambattur and Aminjakarai.
The organisation gives special training to the mentally challenged.
”I started this trust especially because of my brother who was a mentally unstable child. Seeing him suffer affected me deeply during my childhood. That time I decided I had to do something to these kids,” she said.
Having worked as a computer teacher, she quit the job and started the organisation in 2003. “I consider these kids as God’s own children. We give them some activities and have trained them in tailoring, gardening and some other activities. This award is a huge honour and my ambition is to do farming with these kids,” she said.
MAM Muthiah Chettiar’s 90th birth anniversary award was given to Jeevodaya Public Charitable Trust that gives paliative care and preventive oncology to cancer patients.
Receiving the award Dr Ponni, surgeon in Government Royapettah Hospital and a member of the organisation, said,”It is a big privilege to receive this award. Jeevodaya was started in 1995 and it is the first hospice in South India and second in India. Earlier we started this for distitute people but we realised that pain is universal and we have thrown our doors open to all people who are suffering from cancer. This kind of a recognition from the society gives us a boost and helps us to go much better.”
A C Muthiah of Dr M A M Ramaswamy Chettiar Charitable Trust proposed the vote of thanks.