Bombay Kannan- A legend of the Tamil audiobook industry.

  Krishnamachari Kannan more popularly known as Bombay Kannan (74) is a multi-faceted theatre personality who has acted in more than 3000 stage shows, written over 20 plays some of which he directed. He was also active in AIR and Doordarshan early in his stage career. He was running a regular stage troupe called  NAADAHAKKAARAN  staging plays first in Bombay and later in Chennai. After foraying into telefilms he got into producing audiobooks in 2010. 

I asked him how he got `Bombay` prefixed to his name though he had spent only 8 years in Bombay. His answer: “I went to Bombay on transfer to the Central Bank of India which I had joined in 1972. After 8 years in Bombay when I  came back to Chennai in 1984 there were many  Kannans in the theatre and for easy identification I was called Kannan from Bombay.  One morning I saw in the Hindu engagement column my name being referred to as Bombay Kannan. Since then I have been known as Bombay Kannan. Nowadays even my close relatives  only identify me over the phone as Bombay Kannan.”

Kannan`s life story is one of mad pursuit of a passion for the stage at the cost of a successful career as a banker. He was born as the youngest of four siblings. His  father was working with Parry & Co. Kannan had his schooling in Nagapattinam and went to Vivekananda College in Chennai to get a degree in Botany.

“I was interested in acting right from my school days.  My debut on stage took place at the age of 8 when I danced with my sister as Lord Krishna. My full-fledged stage appearance happened inside a Perumal Koil in Nagapattinam when I was 12. It ended up sadly as my throat was choked and I could not utter a single word “

The real break came when he took on the role of the heroine in a play staged by his college in an inter-collegiate drama competition held at Guindy Engineering College.

Kannan says, “In Guindy Engineering College some of the students mistook me to be a girl and were hesitant to shake hands with me while appreciating my acting. That was the first reward for my acting. Then came my first stage appearance in public at  Puttaparthi before Sathya Sai Baba on his birthday in 1968. I owe this to T S Narayansamy of Doordarshan fame who had immense confidence in me to give the title role in his play Krishna Vijayam when I was only 17. He was my  first mentor and guru”

Since then the stage has become his passion. He joined UAA, the famous troupe of YGP in 1970. His debut play was Flight 172. His mentors there were YGP and ARS, the director. He acted in many plays of this troupe before he became a writer.

“My first script was for Doordarshan, Chennai in 1977.  The play was titled KANAVU KANDA KAATCHI. A suspense thriller in which ARS acted in the lead role and Shri Gopalie  was the producer/director”

His first stage play script was SAKTHI PIRAKKUTHU MOOCHINILEY produced and directed by him and was staged in Bombay in 1981. His hilarious play IRU VEEDU ORU VAASAL written & directed by him was staged over 75 times. Kannan got the Best Director award for this play from Mylapore Academy

Kannan is also proud of his play  JUST A SECOND PLEASE, which was a 50% autobiography in which he portrayed God differently. This play was appreciated by many stalwarts and won him the Best Play Award from Mylapore Academy.

While playing Sherlock Sharmaji, a tele serial won him the  `best all-rounder on stage award` `Chakravayugam` a play by the popular writer K.K.Raman, fetched him the best director award- both from Mylapore Academy.

While he was busy leading a double life as a banker and a stage artist, he got married to Subhadra in 1976. She was fresh out of college and had not taken up any job. Their first daughter was born in 1977 and the second in 1985. 

After spending 24 years in the bank, where he was working as a branch manager, he took voluntary retirement at the age of 45 in 1996 and plunged full-time into the creative field hoping to make it big in his chosen field.

Kannan stopped acting in stage plays in 2005 and started producing Teleplays based on his own and other popular stories and sold them in the market in DVD/VCD formats. He claims to be the first person to produce exclusively for home video segment teleplays with popular artists like Delhi Ganesh,  Achi Manorama,  Kathadi Ramamurthy,  Meera Krishnan, Vaiyapuri, Sonia,  Kamlesh, Manager Cheena etc.  He also converted novels of  Bhaggiam Ramasami’s `Appusamiyum Africa Azhagiyuum`,  Sujatha’s `Mama Vijayam`,  Komal Swaminathan’s `Atchi Maatram` etc. into teleplays.

Hearing about his teleplays  Pooram Sathyamurthy, a literary writer requested him to make an audio version of his short stories as he had lost his vision and could not read his own stories.  That was the beginning of his reputation as a pioneer in producing audiobooks in Tamil using multiple voices with music scores and surround sound effects.

“The appreciation I got for the three volumes of Pooram's short stories was a catalyst for continuing my audiobook initiative. I decided to make Kalki`s  Sivagamiyin Sabatham into an Audiobook as my attempt to make it into a Telefilm had failed “  says Kannan.

“Sivagamiyin Sabatham Audiobook was a big hit and hearing the audio Mr C K Venkataraman of Bangalore, an ardent fan of Kalki, wanted me to produce Ponniyin Selvan in audiobook form and was willing to invest his money in the project. Later he joined me as a partner giving birth to the production house  called ` Ponniyin Selvan and Friends` “

Ponniyin Selvan was a marathon project in which 60 popular artists lent their voices. Sathyaseelan was the music director who tuned 15 songs of Kalki as well as  Ilango Adigal to suit the audio format. It took six months of hard work by Kannan. The audiobook was split into 293 chapters ( episodes) so that the buyers could stop listening to the story after any chapter and continue listening from the next chapter, later.

Ponniyin Selvan audio book was launched at a mega function on 14^th June 2013 at Narada Gana Sabha with Nalli Kuppuswamy Chettiar as the chief guest, attended by many other luminaries from the creative world. The hall was overflowing with enthusiastic readers of Kalki prompting the Chief Guest to comment “ I have never seen this kind of crowd for any book launch” The complete set was priced at Rs 600 per set. 150 sets were sold at the launch function. Since then it has sold over 2000  sets.

“Our major clients are visually challenged people who cannot read Tamil and others  who do not have time to read printed books”

Motivated by the  phenomenal success of PS audiobooks, Kannan produced audiobooks based on stories of many other popular writers earning him the reputation as  `A Legend of Tamil audiobook industry`

“ In recent years the audiobook industry has seen a downward trend. Besides, mine is a one-man show because of which I have no time or budget to promote the books aggressively. I discontinued producing audiobooks two years ago” says Kannan.

What made him produce his first documentary `Arangayanam`, which is receiving wide appreciation from invited audiences to which it is screened?

“ When I produced the audiobook based on Sri Venugoplan`s `Thiruvaranga Ula`, the history behind the novel moved me. It talked about how thousands of people sacrificed their lives over 48 years to safeguard the idol of Ranaganatha during the invasion of Srirangam by Thuglak 700 years back.I decided to make a full-fledged documentary based on this story and visited all the places where Ranganatha`s idol was taken to protect it from the invaders. Extensive research on the subject helped me come up with an interesting story for my documentary. I funded the entire cost of production from my savings. This documentary which took 18 months to produce runs for 2 hours and 45 minutes and is shown to invited audiences at Sabhas, Clubs, and other institutions that have members who are interested in the subject. The documentary is also available as Pendrives which  are sold at the venues of the shows.”

“ It is interesting that I though  I visited Srianagm several times during the shooting of Aranagayanam, for some reason or the other I could not get the darshan of Lord Ranganatha, though my  wife who accompanied me got the darshan every time,” says Kannan

 “When I quit my job to pursue a creative career, I was not sure if I was making the right decision. But my wife encouraged me and was a pillar of strength to me.  Without her active support and tolerance,  I would not have been able to face the ups and downs I went through and achieve whatever  I did in the last three decades.  I lost her 2 years back and my confidence & enthusiasm for my work have been shaken up. However I am continuing to keep myself  busy with new projects,`

Kannan`s next documentary project is on the life and preachings of Ramanuja, the much revered social reformer, the shooting for which is almost complete. He is also planning to revisit the tele serial on Sivagamiyin Sabhatham, a project which he had abandoned earlier.

His two daughters, both brilliant students with successful careers are living with their families-  one in the Australia and another in Chennai who are providing the moral support he badly needs.

Let us wish Kannan all the best in his new projects.

  

 

 

 

Vijaya Rajagopal - A lover of challenges

  (An inspiring story)

In almost all modern, well-run, senior citizen Homes that I have visited or stayed in for short durations,  I have found some talented members organize programmes using their specific talents. It could be music, dance, plays, antakshari, quiz, tombola, etc. They are the `Movers & Shakers` of such  Homes. Phase 4 in Nana Nani where I have settled down for the last year is no exception. This article is about Vijaya Rajagopal and her association with Vasanthi Sampathkumar. The duo is popularly known as V2s in the community, who organize innovative, music-based programmes delighting their audiences. Vijaya is the ideas woman who masterminds the programmes and Vasanthi, her co-host, who helps with her suggestions to make the programmes memorable events. The audience loves the chatty, informal style of compering, in Tanglish ( mixing Tamil with English) by  Vijaya,  a master storyteller whose knowledge of our history, arts, culture,   scriptures, music, and Vedas is amazing. Besides Vasanthi she is ably supported by talented singers, dancers, and actors in the community.

 Vijay`s life story is an example of how one can convert challenges into opportunities and make life meaningful and interesting. 

Vijaya spent her early years in Bombay, where her father was working as a director in the Textile Commissioner's office.  The family was living in a four-room apartment in Matunga. Eldest among four siblings Vijaya was a bright student. Though she did her schooling in South Indian Welfare Society`s high school, Wadala , for her college education she was taken to Trivandrum where her grandfather was staying. He wanted her to become a doctor.

Vijaya says, “ I was a state rank holder in PUC and got a seat for medicine with a scholarship. But as my mother  was concerned about my health condition in Trivandrum, she took me  back to  Bombay. I gave up the idea of pursuing  medicine . Instead I got a BSc degree with distinction from S.I.E.S college. When I was  all set  to pursue an MSc fate intervened “

 Her would-be husband Rajagopal, a transport pilot with the Indian Air Force saw her at a family function. It was love at first sight. He made it clear that only  Vijaya would make an ideal wife for him. With determination, he overcame all the objections from both families and married Vijaya at a simple ceremony in their home.

Vijaya says, “ It was such a hurried affair that they forgot to get a photographer to cover the event. You know,  I don't have any photos of my wedding”

Post-wedding she was taken to Gwalior where her husband was posted then.

“ Air Force life was like a bed of roses`` says Vijaya. With her linguistic skills, she adapted herself to the new life well. She actively participated in many of the family events.  The arrival of a daughter and son also made life more challenging and interesting. When life was cruising along beautifully, fate again intervened. Due to health reasons, her husband decided to take voluntary retirement from service. The family first moved to Chennai and then to Madurai. In 1986 when her husband died at the age of 52, she was only 39, faced with the task of bringing up her two teenage children as a single mother.

‘ My daughter was a pillar of strength to me during those trying times. I acquired a B Ed degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, managing challenging assignments in government schools as part of the curriculum” says Vijaya

Then began her long journey as a school teacher where she had an opportunity to tell stories to children based on our epics. Both her son and daughter were well settled by now with their own families- her son living in the USA and her architect daughter who has a daughter, also an architect, settled in Pune. Vijaya successfully ran a Play School from her home in Pune where she moved to be close to her daughter`s home. After 25 years the Covid pandemic prompted its closure.

Vijaya says,” My husband used to say that we should help children as long as they want and then we should live an independent life without responsibilities. When I decided to act upon this idea, I looked at many senior citizens' Homes. With help from a relation, I  zeroed in on Nana Nani, Phase 4 in Coimbatore. I moved into the facility in November 2021.

“The first person I met in the dining hall where I had gone with my granddaughter on the first day was  Vasanthi. She told my granddaughter,  “Your Paati (Grandmother) will be happy here”.

At that time  Vijaya didn`t realize that she would be embarking on a new action-filled life and that with Vasanthi she would be involved in organising many memorable programmes in Nana Nani.

Vasanthi says, “ I was very impressed with Vijaya.  She looked very vibrant and full of life. I knew she would be an asset in our community.”

Vasanthi was brought up in Srirangam, the temple city.  During her student days she was a keen sportswoman. Badminton & basket ball were her favourite games in which she had won prizes at the district level. In 1968, she married  Sampath Kumar, a brilliant student and a rank holder who was working then in Bombay. Within two years he started his own business. The couple  spent the next 53 years in Bombay before they moved to Nana Nani in February 2019 after discharging all their family responsibilities.

“ During my long stay in Bombay, I was never involved  in stage activities. It was Vijaya who discovered me  and trained me to be her deputy in organising events. I have learned a lot from her and continue to do so”

 The first programme the duo organized was Anthakshari. The duo had to persuade the residents to participate in good numbers. It became a hit.  The second event was a Medley with 15 residents participating. In music, a medley is a collection of different tunes and songs that are played one after the other as a single piece of music..The event became so popular in Phase 4 that the team was invited to repeat it for the benefit of residents in Phase 3 & 5 of Nana Nani.

The first theme-based programme, a musical drama scripted and produced by Vijaya, using classical music was, Nandanaar, a Nayanar Saint, who is venerated in the Hindu sect of Shaivism. He is generally counted as the eighteenth in the list of 63 Nayanars. Though she had not learned Carnatic music, Vijya listens to it every day and believes there is nothing like Carnatic music.

“In Aug 23, I had a stroke and foot drop. I didn’t know if I could ever move but I recovered soon managing with a walker and stayed at home. Thanks to very supportive and helpful friends  I was back in action. I like challenges, that Is why I keep getting challenges, I think” says Vijaya.

Despite Vijaya`s  mobility problem the duo  produced a musical drama on Ramayana using a unique concept.  A rare combination of three storytelling forms to present the venerated Ramayana story. With a running commentary narrated in her inimitable style by  Vijya, interspersed with 39 short and appropriate songs based on lyrics from the works of famous saints like Kabir, Kamban, Tulasidas, Theagaraja, and Mythili Sharan, sung beautifully by a team of 10 talented singers seated on the stage. In addition, the audience witnessed the enactment of selected scenes from Ramayana going with the flow of the story by veteran actors from the community, enhancing the impact of the narration. The repeated applause from the packed audience during the programme and a standing ovation at the end proved the resounding success of the programme.  

Vijaya says “I would write the story first. Team members good at music would provide their expertise. Simultaneously we would decide about the actors who can perform different roles. Then we would rehearse for several days until I  felt  we were ready to go on stage. It was all wonderful team work”

Inspired by the success of Ramayana, the duo presented a  similar show on Lord  Ranganatha of Srirangam fame. The story outline for this was provided by Mythili Narayanan @ Shylaja. This show also became a big hit. 

Their other acclaimed presentations include `Navagrahamum Diskhitarum` featuring the Navagraha Kritis by composer Muthuswami Dikshitar- tracing the evolution of Indian music and a Karaoke-based film music programme titled `Monsoon  Magic` featuring rain-related songs. It was interesting that while this show was going on it was raining heavily outside the Hall.

In addition to her involvement with music-based shows, Vijaya also started learning Sanskrit and Rudram (a vedic mantra)  after coming to Nana Nani. Everyday,  after lunch she also spends some time playing cards. Recently she started learning to play Bridge.

Vijaya  says, “ I don`t think I would have got such opportunities anywhere else. I have no time now. Despite  my  mobility problem, I am thoroughly enjoying my life here”

While Vijaya- Vasanthi duo is popular in the community as organizers of innovative programmes, Vijaya`s life story proves that age and physical problems are no bar to taking on challenges in life and living a fun-filled happy life.  Vijaya is certainly a role model among senior citizens in the community.

A memorial meeting for Prabha

 It was a small function to inaugurate the renovated office room of the Balavadi which the Mangayarkarasi Mahalir Manram ( MMM- Sastri Nagar Ladies Club) was planning to revive after a gap of five years. Since Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation(PRTF) had sponsored the renovation cost, the new dynamic President of MMM Mrs Archana Ramasundaram {IPS Retd.) converted the occasion to a memorial meeting for Prabha. It was a pleasure listening to some old members recalling their association with Prabha as a soft-spoken person who was involved in all the activities of the Manram and did any job given to her with total commitment. I remembered that it was the Manram, apart from the Inner Wheel Club of Madras South, which opened up a whole new world to Prabha. The active involvement with these two institutions helped her come out of her shell and display her hidden talents as a writer, singer, and many other fields, emerging as an independent woman with an identity of her own. I was happy that my daughter Sowmya and granddaughter Uthara were present at the meeting. At the end of the meeting, on my special request, Uthara sang a Puranadara Dasa number in her melodious voice, delighting the audience. I must thank the managing committee of the Manram, particularly Mrs. Vanaja Krishnamurthy, the Vice-President of the Manram for giving me an opportunity to be associated with the project.

Charukesi- A sixth Anniversary tribute

On this day six years ago - 30th January 2019 -my good friend Charukesi, the veteran bilingual writer/author passed away after fighting a losing battle with cancer. He opened up a whole new world of literature to me. Encouraged me in my writing efforts. Translated my autobiography in Tamil. In many ways, he became an integral part of my literary life in the last decade of his life. I miss him a lot. I presented an A/V that I produced tracing his life story at a memorial meeting organised by Tamizh Puthaga Nanbargal ( Tamil Readers Forum) of which he was one of the four pillars. I had less than seven days to produce this video, which was made possible with help from Charukesi`s family.

 

Tamizh Puthaka Nanbargal  promoted writers and novels at its monthly meetings. At the meeting, an avid reader reviewed a book of a living author in detail in the author’s presence. It was followed by a question and answer session between the author and the audience. Charukesi was responsible for selecting a worthy novel, identifying a suitable reviewer, and drafting the invitation  . The other three pillars were R.T Chari who conceived the idea and sponsored the meeting,  Ravi Tamilvanan the MC who conducted the meeting in his inimitable style, and yours truly in charge of the overall coordination including mailing the invitations and follow-up.

 

For every meeting, I would give him a lift in my car to and from Tag Centre, the venue of the meetings. I would also offer this facility to anyone else who wanted this service provoking Charukesi to say in jest that `Rajan`s CAR SEVA` is now available. I continue to offer this service in Nana Nani where I am staying now

 

After Charukesi`s demise Kizhambur, the editor of Kalaimagal became the fourth pillar. Thanks to TPN not only I got close to CharukesI but also got to know several award-winning Tamil writers. During the pandemic, TPN was dissolved, never to be revived again.

 

I am sharing the A/V once again as my tribute to a great human being on his sixth death anniversary.

https://youtu.be/BxSScsbroTU 

 

A 12th Anniversary Tribute

Time flies. It has already been 12 years since my life partner left me to join the Lord in heaven. This is a small tribute from me on her 12^th Anniversary.

Prabha was a fast learner, who overcame several of her initial inhibitions to become a wonderful partner, good daughter-in-law, lovely mother, doting grandmother, and above all a great homemaker! In the last two decades of her life, she acquired an identity of her own as a writer and as a socially active person. She walked tall in our social circles! I was certainly proud of her achievements.

She called our memorable trip to Kashmir in April, 2012,  a `childhood dream come true`. Unfortunately within six weeks of our return from that dream holiday her world came crashing down. We discovered that she was being consumed by the dreaded crab disease, and metastasis had already set in. Exactly seven months after the diagnosis of the disease she was gone on 5^th January,2013. She was only 61. My `Kashmir ki Kali` left me after being my life partner for 40 years.

Instead of mourning Prabha`s death, I have been celebrating her memory for the last twelve years. I am involved with many activities to identify and bring to limelight talented women writers in Tamil under the auspices of  Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation. In the process, not only am I keeping myself active, but also trying to spread happiness around,  Hope that keeps my dear Prabha`s soul happy!

Dignity Foundation- for Elder Care with Dignity

The Chennai Chapter of Dignity Foundation (DF) which celebrated its silver jubilee last year has been winning the Best Chapter award for four  years in a row. I have been a member of DF for over 15 years, and I am very impressed with the dedication and commitment shown by the staff in the Chennai Chapter to elder care which has helped them achieve this feat.

Before I go into the activities of the Chennai Chapter a quick recap of the origin of DF.

Founded in 1995, by Dr. Sheilu Sreenivasan, Dignity Foundation an NGO aims to change the way people look at ageing in India. The story behind what made

Mrs Sreenivasan start DF makes for interesting reading (see the box). It started with Dignity Dialogue, India’s longest-running senior citizen magazine with a circulation of 20,000. Dignity Dialogue magazine gave birth to Dignity Foundation whose aim is for elders to age productively and live their golden years with Dignity. Started in Bombay DF now has chapters in Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad. A new chapter was started in Coimbatore recently. Activities of Dignity Foundation are funded by member fees and donations from Corporates through their CSR programs. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees.

 

Dignity Dialogue was followed by Dignity Chai Masti Centers (CMCs)where senior citizens meet, bond and explore their talents. With 30 vibrant centers across 8 cities in India, CMCs offer regular sessions for wellness, entertainment, recreation and hobby cultivation, keeping the members active and engaged. What started as physical activities at offices of the chapters is now available also as online (zoom) sessions to those who prefer virtual participation from the comfort of their homes.

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Dementia Day Care Centre is another important service offered by the Foundation which provides a safe and stimulating environment for people living with Dementia. This service, offered for a fee, offers crucial respite for caregivers, reducing their physical and emotional stress. It is an ideal solution for working couples who have dementia patients at home. This service is available in Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, New Delhi and Kolkata. At the Centers, members receive compassionate care by trained caregivers along with therapies to delay the progression of Dementia.

 

Anand Daan is a service under which DF identifies senior citizens who are genuinely needy in the slums of cities, providing free monthly ration kits to them creating food security.

 

Under Dignity Care, DF runs Day Care centers, Loneliness Mitigation centers and Dementia Care centers as a free service to poor seniors living in slums of cities. Right now, such centers are functioning in Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai.

 

DF also runs, under a separate trust, an assisted residential facility at Neral, near Mumbai.

 

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The Chennai Chapter was started in 1998 based on the request of readers of Dignity Dialogue in Chennai. Initially the activities were related to the magazine. Monthly gatherings to celebrate the cover personality were the beginning of Chennai’s initiatives. It gradually grew into other services to senior citizens, like companionship to lonely elders, helpline for rescue of abused senior citizens, and CMC’s (Tehneer Arangams) providing some form of entertainment and opportunities  for daily bonding .

Sheilu Srieeivasan, the founder of DF says, “The year 2016 was a turning point in the growth of the Chennai Chapter when Felista Jose joined as the Chapter Manager. Under her dynamic leadership ably supported by a strong advisory council headed by Mrs.Sundara Gopalan and the philanthropic N C Krishnaswamy, the chapter started flying the Dignity flag high, leading to the grand Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Chapter last year”

Felista says, “In 2016 and 2017, we launched a project titled Wellbeing Enhancement aimed at improving the lives of underprivileged senior citizens in five slums of Chennai: Kannagi Nagar, Saidapet, Srinivasapuram, Dooming Kuppam, and Nochi Kuppam. This initiative reached approximately 4,500 elders.”

 The Dementia Day care center started in Chennai in 2004 has now 25 members attending the center daily. A trained social worker is responsible for coordinating center`s activities and  its smooth functioning. The services provided at the center are daily bus service to pick up and drop, good nutrition, simple yoga, a range of therapies like: Occupational therapy, Physiotherapy, Recreational therapy and Cognitive therapy conducted by professionals. The center provides a safe secure setting, constantly encouraging members into activities to keep them alert all the time.

According to Mr. Sabarinathan, son of Mrs. Geetha with fronto-temporal dementia, the family was finding it difficult to  handle her behaviour.

“After trying out various options, we were referred to Dignity Dementia Day Care centre. Mother liked the environment very much. Being at the day care centre, participating in various activities, was far more effective than all the medicines she was taking. I have visited many such centres, and I find the dedication of the staff at Chennai DDC to be the best”

At present, the monthly fee charged by DF per patient in Chennai is Rs.15,000, which covers patient pick-up and drop-off services, morning and evening tea accompanied by refreshments, lunch, and all therapy services.

As a part of strengthening the Centre and extending the activities to more people, branches of the Chennai Chapter were started in Mylapore and Tiruvanmiyur in 2018 which has helped in growing the number of members attending the Centre .

A day care centre was started on 20^th January,2020 at Mullaima Nagar, a slum, with ambitious plans. The announcement of the lockdown and the pandemic forced the centre to be closed immediately. But that did not stop the Chennai Team from reaching the beneficiaries. It was during the pandemic that the Chennai team came out with flying colours.

Felista says, “Despite the closure of the Centre we established a group known as the "Corona Safety Senior Citizens Group," Our team consisting of 15 outreach workers with 1 field supervisor conducted 11 IEC awareness programmes  to propagate and strengthen the practices of social distancing, masking and demonstrating the correct hand wash practices through  a range of activities such as Street Play, Mega Signature Campaign, Vehicle Awareness programs, Street painting, Villu paatu (Musical storytelling), Awareness Rally, Kolattam (Traditional folk dance). This initiative was greatly appreciated by the members”

SUPPORT FOR THE HOMELESS SHELTERS FOR THE ELDERLY IN CHENNAI project was launched in  2022 in collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation to facilitate the improvement of the quality and services provided to about 200 needy senior citizens in their existing old age shelter homes in Vepery, Perambur and Royepettah .

Apart from getting  nutritious food and counselling service the inmates also receive geriatric healthcare  through different  activities like fitness classes, art and craft session, laughing therapy, basic literacy and numeracy classes.Recently the chapter has also added slums in Mannady under this intervention programme.

While the poor people in slums were being looked after the team also kept the activities of the Centre for regular members going through zoom (online) meetings with interesting programmes five days a week, Monday through Friday. The subjects ranged from musical evenings, fitness talks, active aging yoga, and many more which kept the members glued to their mobile or laptop, every evening. Thanks to the zoom facility those members who were unable to come to the centre because of distance and travel constraints were able to participate  in meetings. On October 5^th, 2020, the chapter resumed operations at the Centre, which is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. Thanks to hybrid meetings these days  the average daily attendance has gone up to  75 members.

 

Commenting on the zoom meetings T.C.Ragupathy an active member of the Chennai Chapter says, “Regular contacts through Zoom helped  us bond with each other besides giving  us a chance to show our skills in singing, sharing experiences, etc. It is like ‘meet from home’ on the lines of ‘work from home’. This is one more feather in DF’s cap”.

 

The Chennai Chapter members are also  encouraged to participate in large numbers in the All-India Events organised by the Head Office every year.

 

In the last few years, I have witnessed the dedicated staff of the Chennai Chapter regularly coming with innovative ideas, such as intergenerational programs, to engage the members and help in bringing to limelight their hidden talents, which has resulted in the creation of an extended family of members. The enthusiasm and energy of these members at all events is to be seen to be believed. In old age friends are important and getting new friends through Dignity Foundation, in the absence of other avenues for some members, has made their lives interesting and enjoyable.

 

The Chennai chapter managed by a Chapter Head Felista and Deputy Manager Merita and a staff of 13 trained professionals, richly deserve the recognition they have been getting as the best chapter for the last few years, for not only taking care of the paying members, but also for their dedicated service to underprivileged senior citizens in the community.

Those interested in becoming members of Dignity Tehneer Arangams, subscribe to Dignity Dialogue or support the chapter with donations can contact Felsita – 9840395943 or email -felista.jose@dignityfoundation.com

 

                                                                    In the Box                                  

                              The story behind the origin of Dignity Foundation.

It was July 1994 Dr. Sheilu Sreenivasan the founding President of DF was on her return flight from New York to Mumbai with a stopover at Frankfurt. As she was getting down the aircraft and walking towards the security area, she saw two airport ground staff approaching her. As she was wearing a saree, they had rightly identified her as an Indian. She was requested to accompany them to meet someone who could not speak any language other than ‘Indian’. They took her to a lady clad in a white saree, sitting in a wheelchair, face distraught and blabbering rather loudly. The moment she saw Sheilu she instantly caught hold of her hands and didn’t let go for the next 3 hours. The reality was that she had been abandoned by her family in the airport washroom at Frankfurt. The lady`s handbag had no passport, no ticket, no money – the family did not leave any trace of her identity. The lady must have been talking in Sindhi which Sheilu could not understand but she could make out that it was her son Munna who left her in the lurch. The German ground staff requested Sheilu to go along with them to admit the lady in a shelter home and return on time for her flight to Mumbai.

Sheilu says, “The trauma of leaving her behind, totally distraught, remained etched in my mind.  It was then that the social worker in me decided: I will work and live for the elderly for the rest of my life. I started the Dignity Foundation in 1995 in Mumbai to enable senior citizens get rid of these insecurities and lead a life of dignity, security, fulfilment and filled with joy”

(Dr. Sheilu Sreenivasan holds an MA in Psychiatric Social Work from Madras University and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Mumbai University. After giving years to research and publishing, she has dedicated the past 29 years to the relentless delivery of elder care services at the grassroot level across India for which she won the Amazing Indian Award 2022 for the Slum Care Category from Times Now, one of the many recognitions she has got over the years.).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 12th book released

A biography of Ramakrishna Raja, a tall leader in the Rotary world and a Past Treasurer of the Music Academy, authored by me, was released yesterday ( 1st September) at a packed Tag Auditorium by N.Murali, Director of the Hindu and President of Music academy. The first copy was received by Mr Laxman, Chairman of the Rane group. R.T Chari of the Tag who sponsored both the book and the event, PDG Nagoji Natarajan, and Mrs Prema Srinivasan spoke on the occasion. It was my 12th book in 15 years, covering the 8th genre of writing.

I have done condensed versions of biographies of nine eminent personalities of Chennai and bio sketches of scores of Chennai–based achievers – all published in Madras Musings and released as a book titled `Bright Stars in the Chennai Sky` two years ago. However, I had not attempted a full biography of another eminent personality. I thank my friend R.T. Chari, a close friend of Raja's, who sponsored both the book and the event, and Raja’s family for allowing me to write Raja's biography.

The book is divided into five parts: Ram`s Early Years, Ram as a Quintessential Family Man, Ram - a Cherished Friend, Ram with Music Academy and other institutions, and Ram in Rotary as a Supreme Mentor.

When you finish reading the book, you will realize what a great human being Raja was. He touched the life of anyone he came in contact with. His advice was sought by many eminent people in business, and he was a mentor, nay a supreme mentor, for many PDGs in our Rotary District. He was as popular with every one of his family members as he was with others. He was a rare human being—a gentleman to the core—a complete Gentleman!

So `Ramakrishna Raja – A complete Gentleman` is the title of the book. Designed and printed by Compuprint, It is a thin book with only 100 plus pages packed with interesting anecdotes from Raja`s life which you can read in one sitting.

Once again I thank Chari and the family for giving me the opportunity to write the story of a great Rotarian and friend.

A singing poet-- Isaikavi Ramanan

A person capable of applying his attention in many directions is referred to as Astavadhanii.  The title would certainly fit T.A. Venkateswaran, popularly known as Isaikkavi Ramanan. who has enriched the world of performing arts with his talents as a thinker, writer, poet, actor, speaker, singer, photographer and performer

I first met Ramanan at a Madras Book Club meeting where he was in conversation with a professor from Pondicherry on his book on Mahakavi Bharathi`s life in Pondy. Ramanan was very articulate and impressed me with not only his knowledge of Bharathi but also his impeccable English. I came to know that he is a bilingual writer and speaker. He is as comfortable giving a talk in English or writing in English as he is in Tamil.  From a successful corporate honcho to a popular performer on the stage, Ramanan has come a long way in 20 years. He turned 70 on 30^th March this year. I decided to explore his reinvention story for the readers of  Madras Musings.

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Ramanan`s late father, Sri T.V.Anantaramaseshan was a scholar in English and Sanskrit. An M.A. (Hons) with a gold medal from the Presidency College, Madras.  he taught Economics at Loyola College (1954 – 63) before he joined The Hindu as Assistant Editor, where he worked for 23 years. Later he was associated   with the evening paper News today. An expert in temple/sculptural architecture, he was instrumental in conducting 25 Kumbhabhishekam. He composed 27 Suprabhatams on deities from Kanyakumari to Jageshwar. No wonder Ramanan has his penchant for  spiritualism in his blood. Ramanan  also has imbibed the zest for life and enthusiasm from his 95 years old mother Savithri, who now lives with him.

Sandwiched  between three elder sisters and one younger sister who were all super singers, Ramanan obviously had singing  in his blood. However, only his youngest sister pursued a career in singing.

While in  Ramakrishna Mission Boys High School, Bazululla Road, in Chennai where he completed his SSLC, he  used to participate in literary competitions. The first time he ever received a prize was when he was in his third or fourth class for singing Bharathi’s Vellai Thamarai. He  fondly remembers receiving two volumes of Eesop’s fables (in Tamil) from Sri Parali Su Nellaiappar, Bharathi’s close associate. 

Recalling his student days Ramanan says, “For a poor student to whom even simple arithmetic was a horrible nightmare, studying Commerce in A M Jain College, Meenambakkam, was nothing less than a disaster. Most of my class hours were spent under the trees, penning poems or winning prizes in debates, oratorical competitions, essay writing, mono acting, recitation and so on. I was the Secretary of the Commerce Association once and Fine Arts Association later during which time, I could invite Kannadasan to our college” His tryst with Kannadasan and his songs probably started from that time.

Ramanan says that he never had any academic dreams, though he was always a dreamer. While poetry enticed him on one side, he was a natural mind watcher too. There is a vision that has stayed with him since he was 10 or so – that of an angler with a brown hat, reclining on a tree, facing a jungle brook, watching the flow of water silently.

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He joined The Hindu on October 1, 1977 as a Sales Representative in Chennai. When he became a Sales Officer he had  to travel a lot, often going on tour for three weeks a month. Apart from his travels, whenever he was in HQ, he was the official typist for the Circulation Department, packed/loaded newspaper parcels, worked for several nights in the packing and dispatch section and  distributed the newspaper in the early hours. Life was tough. The brighter side was that he saw a lot of movies, visited several temples and picked up working knowledge of  Kannada and Telugu.

In 1989, he was promoted as Regional Manager, Visakhapatnam where he  launched the Vizag edition. As a Regional Manager, he won several awards for achieving sales targets and also for his impressive presentations at the company`s annual conferences. Managers chosen for other regions used to be sent to Vizag for training.

Ramanan says, “I was instrumental in introducing an important software system for the Advertising department. I also played a big part in opening up The Hindu for regional and local advertisements like regional front page solus, ear panels, local supplements etc.”

However Poetry never left him. It provided the psychological relief and also the fillip to his enthusiasm for work.

 What makes him invoke goddess parashakthi and his guru in most of his talks? What was the trigger that made him quit his job and get fully involved in creative pursuits?

Ramanan says,“I was in my ninth class when Sri Ma Vi Raghavan, our Tamil teacher recited a poem of Bharathi. Something hit me. Though I did not understand even the basic meaning, I was overwhelmed. It was in 1971 October that I started writing poems and a few years later, I started composing songs. Sometime between 1974 and 1976, on a sunny afternoon, I had a strange experience which happened in a flash. I had a vision of Bharathi and Ma Kaali and I felt as though something invaded my consciousness. Parasakthi and Bharathi entered me together I should say. She is a palpable, living reality to me”

His quest for Truth, took him to several Gurus until he found the right one in Satguru Sri K Sivananda Murty of Bheemunipatnam near Vizag. who took him on several yathras. Ramanan has so far visited the Himalayas 36 times.

“If I can say that my life is over and my living continues, I owe it all to my Guru. He cured my psychological injuries through his love, taught me the real history of this great nation, made me understand the depth of our Dharma and granted several deep spiritual experiences.”

"As the inner call was getting louder and as I realized that my slogging in a career was not worth all that martyrdom, I quit my job on 30^th March 2005 with nothing else in my hand.”

Ramanan was 51 years old when he launched his new life as a performer. In the last 19 years his fan base has widened to not only within India but has also spread  across the world. Because as a public speaker Ramanan provokes, stimulates and entertains -- whether he speaks on literature, music, cinema, theatre, spirituality or culture. Ramanan’s voice rings out with bell-like clarity, every syllable distinct.

“I am more a talker than a speaker,” says Ramanan. “My talks are different, the audience do not feel any distance between them and me.”  The talks are different also because he frequently bursts into songs -- or into flowery lyric or infectious rhyme, His style is conversational, his tone is positive, he has a light witty touch. The audience is kept in  good humour and glued to its seats.

Over the years he has addressed members of literary or cultural associations, music sabhas, students of MBA or engineering, schoolchildren, parents, corporates. The topics are diverse too:  Thirukkural, Bharatiar, Kannadasan’s film songs, spiritual discourses. And self-improvement topics such as  communication skills, positive attitude, personal management and conflict management. 

He has been on lecture tours to the US, Canada, Singapore,  Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Sri Lanka. He has spoken at temples, university auditoriums, radio stations, the basements of a few houses.

Though he is very popular for his singing, Ramanan says that he has no formal training in music.  He says, “I have imbibed a feel for music from my mother and also sisters. Tunes happen to me though I cannot set my own poems to tunes.  I am spontaneous! Yes, my music is inseparable from my poetry and it is clearly the gift of my Parasakthi. Again, I am not a scholar; not at all a well-read person; I have an intuitive feel for  things, thanks to the blessings of my Guruji. He provides that edge”

Ramanan is also a  prolific  writer. So far he has published  40 books in Tamil,  Five in English. `The Intimate Unknown`, a book in English he wrote about his  Guruji is close to his heart.

In Tamil, his  two books on Kannadasan, one each on Bharathi and Kamban and one titled ‘Pala Mugangal Sila Ninaivugal’ are his favourites. Another book which is popular is his biography on Director K.Balachandar titled `Sigaram`for which he interacted closely with K Balachander for six to eight months. ‘

“Since I refused to accept money from him for the biography, Balachandar  invited me  to act in a serial directed by him . During the shootings he always insisted that I should be given a chair beside him. Till the end, he addressed me as Ramanan Sir,  despite ,my protests.” says Ramanan.

His other publications include 12 books of his poems, 19 books of his essays. He has also translated three books from English to Tamil and one from Tamil to English.

Ramanan has also been an actor on stage as well as on the small screen. He has participated in over 1400 television  programmes, The only movie in which he played a good role did not see the light of day. He has  acted in four serials. The first one was directed by late Sri K Balachandar.

As regards theatre, he acted in a small role in an English play ‘Free Outgoing’ by Creasakthi Dushi, directed by Mahesh Dattani. In Tamil theatre, it was SBS Raman who invited him  to write a play based on his father’s (Sri S Balachander) famous movie ‘Andha Naal’ and also play the lead role in it.

Ramanan has also written and acted as Bharathi in the play “Bharathi Yaar ` which has been staged in several cities in India and abroad.

Ramanan says, “Playing the role of the Mahakavi who died when he was hardly 39 at 70 is indeed challenging” He is also acting as Bharathi in a serial on Bharathi produced by Krishnaswamy Associates, currently being aired on Doordarshan in Tamil.

One of his most popular programme in recent years sponsored by Krishna Sweets and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is `Kalangalil Avan Vasantham` , a series on songs of  Kannadasan which has already seen over 100 shows in six years.

Ramanan has received over 45 Awards and recognitions in the last  19 years since he started his new innings as a performer. The prestigious Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu government for the year 2018 was bestowed on him  in 2019

Ramanan says, “I value all of them but the title “Isaikkavi” is the one I cherish most as it has become part of my name. It is special because it was not given by any organization but by my friend  Mahesh Krishnan who  presented me a memento with the inscription “Isaikkavi”, after a talk in English I gave in Los Angeles in 2006."

Anuradha  is the woman behind the successful Ramanan for the last 43 years. He calls her his guardian angel.

 ‘She also has a flair for languages and is very fluent in Tamil, English, Hindi, Telugu and to some extent in Marathi, Kannada and Malayalam too. A thoroughly no-nonsense person, I have never suffered from boredom in married life, thanks to her company”. says Ramanan.

The couple is blessed with twins, Anand and Vikram. Anand  lives in Boston with his wife Priya and children Shivsundar and Aadhya. Vikram lives in Madurai with his wife Deepthi and son Kumara Seshan. Both my sons and daughters in law sing well. So does Kumara Seshan and Aadhya who have  started learning music.

A blessed family indeed!  

“A happy, noisy family!” says Ramanan. “I am not special in any way but very fortunate in every way”.

Let us pray that Parashkthi  bestows good health on Ramanan so that he continues to delight his fans with his multiple talents, for years to come!