How a loss can be transformed to happiness & prosperity??
I realised the above said quesion only when i saw the happy faces of the parents, who were feeling proud of thier kids receiving prizes on stage in Pon Naavarasu Matriculation School, Malayaandikavundanoor, Udumalpet, Coimbatore (district) on 18-March-2007.
As like everybody else in the highly educated society, Dr. P K Ponnusamy,my uncle, could've decided to settle in US and continued his research in Bio-Phyisics.....in exploring the DNA of HIV and things beyond that. Would've lead a peaceful life with thier daughters who are well settled in US and continued to earn more accolades than he is receiving now!
What made him to stay in home place, set up a trust, run a school in a village with a financial deficit?
Well, everyone will think that he started the school with an aim to serve the rural society in the name of his beloved son Naavarasu!! ( http://www.ponnaavarasutrust.org/evolution.htm )
The link will tell you the objectives behind the formation of the trust..and there are many more reasons...which is hard to see from a distance for anyone!
Peculiarly, he does not encourage donation campaigns, do not want much of publicity for the school... which everyother trust and trust run schools looks for. Trusts always encourage donators and their involvement! But he hardly accpets donations.
Why is it so? let's see his perspective!
"Had my son been alive today, i will be spending minimum three lakhs for him...
I'm just putting that money for 300 students! If i could able to do this till my life, then that will do for me!... "
" Payyanai parikoduthaachu....andha soehathhai maraikka yaedhoe ippadi alainchukittu irukkaen"
(I lost my son.....to hide the sorrow, i'm doing all these)
"There is no need for me to do go for donations...it will come on its own even if i say no! my friends and my well wishers are always ready. But i want this trust to grow on its own over a period of time. This school is a platform for making my dreams come true, which i missed to see those through my son!"
I was deeply moved by his thoughts!
He is not interested in the trust to grow as a college or a university!He doesn't want to dilute the esscence and lessen the taste!
The concept is simple...
Educating 100 students every year from a rural area with all the best morals, human values and with visions as that of Pon.Naavarasu is 1000 times better than very professionally running a school which just provides education to its best!
He wants to see hundreds of Pon Naavarasu coming out of the school every year!
And we console ourselves and smile when the parents of those hundred Pon Naavarasu, who are proud of thier children's education and prosperity!!!
During the trust's 10th year celebrations, his voice broke when he was talking about his son on stage...Though his eyes were ponded ... He could able to grow many lotus in the pond! Making it so beautiful that nobody can feel the pond was formed after a thunderstrike on his cherised temple!
After seeing the school kids spirit and involvement, I believe them that they will surely transform the society in future as Pon Naavarasu wished! and at that moment, i realised how a loss can be transformed into happiness & propsperity!!
R P
7 comments:
Prabhu said:
Pragatheeswaran,
Its good to hear about this. Will you able to summarize the things which you have seen there and upload it and in what aspect you are planning to do your best to the school?
We have thought about this cheap rate of computers but we really could not get the chance of working towards it. So if possible please put forth your comments and the rate, configurations of that computers. As we have enough money, we can figure out the possiblities.
-Prabhu
Vijairaj said:
Hi Pragy,
I do receive your mail and glad that you visited Pon Naavarasu school.
I read the details about the school and am very impressed.
People can notify about any sale of old computers in their respective offices.
We shall decide on buying them or getting one/more sponsor to buy them.
--
Vijairaj
Udhay said:
Praggy, hats off to your efforts! Thats a great work
Couple of comments
1) Donating computers is an excellent idea. However, I
would like to know if the school's teachers/students
know how to teach/use them. I firmly believe
try-and-learn applies to learning computers, but it is
unfocused, lengthy and have some short comings. Buying
computers is a heavy investment, so I just wanted to
make sure if it is worth it (what is the opportunity
cost? - library, teacher's salary etc), and are there
enough resources to teach/learn computers?
2) Having said this, there are few organizations (as
Vijayraj noted) which we can try and see if they can
sponsor some computers to the school. I dont know much
abt Chennai but we can definitely try - Azim Premji
Foundation and Asha Chennai. I think some cpys have
social groups which take up such projects (Infy
foundation, TCS Literacy pgm, google.org, etc).
In any case, I feel that it might be better to assess
the budget and talk to the school management/teachers
and see what are their imminent needs.
-Udhay
Excellent initiative Praggy and good thoughts on this Udhay.
I have put this across in my company. Will keep you posted on the same.
Hi Friends!
Good Initiative! Have a news on better way to spread computer and awareness. Let's see if this is feasible in our case. Please read the below link
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070006925
Vijairaj said:
//... I still remember my school days in 7th when we students were asked to stand in queue and boot and shutdown the computer once in two weeks.. ;-)
I now wish these rural kids to use computers from their LKG..
I'll certainly discuss with the school teachers and to how to go with this idea! ...//
True, It does make a lot of difference if students get a chance to use computers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child
Ashok Kumar said:
Hi Praggy,
We have enquired our Corporate Social Responsibility representative regarding purchase of used/old computers.It seems they are sure about giving that without any cost,but it would take time.There would be some process to proceed with that it seems.
Before proceeding ,the school principal need to give us 2 original copies of letter stating that they need computers to teach children.
The letter should include
1)no of children studying in that school
2)should give a brief about the school about organisation,management,etc......
3)no of teachers who have knowlledge about computers
4)no of computers they need (should specify how many computers they need for teaching purpose,computers needed for admin purpose,etc..),
5)Location of the school,Town,District
6)should show proof if it is a rural school (Xerox is enough)
7)Address of the school
Make sure that they put the signature and the seal.
Praggy,is it possible for u to get the letters asap and send it to us?,so that we could contact the person involving in this.
We have to give those letters to the HR involved in this and they in turn send that to the top level management.The management will enquire about the school and there will be some investigations also about the school. After getting approved they will give the required no of computers in First Come First Serve basis, coz there r lots like us. It might take a month or so. I will follow it up.
Thanks to Praggy for initiating such a good idea and for his great efforts!!!!!
This is my address:
Ashok Kumar K,
Emp no: 159145,
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd,
No.79,IT Highway,RTSC,
Karapakkam,
Chennai-600096.
Mobile No: 9840104742 Office No: 044-66167593
Do include my office no for sure.
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