Chennai: At 80, one is expected to lead a laidback life. But K K Ganapathy, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur, in the city, differs in his approach.
Serving as the president of Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association (Thambraas), he was recently presented with the LifeTime Achievement award, by the forum, during a State-level meeting in Madurai.
According to him, the Thiruvanmiyur unit is the best performing among all others.
“We have 550-odd members in this branch. I have received more than 40 awards for the kind of help the unit does. We work for the upliftment of people irrespective of caste. I am not confined to my community. Like, we extend help to 20-30 deserving students each year. These are the ones recommended by their respective schools. Apart from this, we help in conducting marriages, last rites, thread ceremony and the like,” he says.
The organisation also honours teachers who take free classes after school, it is learnt.
“Certain priests too teach Veda and Shastra selflessly,” he notes.
Having lived in Thiruvanmiyur since 1997, he says that all his neighbours who know what he does, come forward with donations and other help.
So what motivates him to work?
“Having lost my father at a young age, I began working at the age of 17 to support my family. I guess you must have it in your blood to do social service,” he feels.
On 26 January every year, the association does annadhanam in the neighbourhood from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
“We also provide annadhanam on my birthday and that of my family members, at a park near my residence,” he points out. He can be reached at 24412896.