I went to Chennai on 8th July for a week, primarily to witness the installation of my elder daughter, Kavitha Srinivas, as the President of the Rotary Club of Chennai Spotlight, an all-women's club, on 10th July. The function was held at S Convention Centre in T.Nagar and was scheduled to start at 6.30 pm.
Just a
couple of days before leaving for Chennai, I received an invitation to attend
the Prize distribution function for the winners of the mega short-story
competition in Tamil, conducted by Raya Chellappa in memory of his late
mother Swarnambal. There were 325 entries and 35 prize winners. I got one
of the ten second prizes of Rs 2000/-. The venue was Anna Centenary Library,
and the function was to start at 5.00 pm. I was in a dilemma: whether to stay
until I received the prize from the hands of Tiruppur Krishnan, the
chief guest, or leave at 6.00 pm to be in time for my daughter’s function. I
chose the second option and missed receiving a prize in a short
story competition I had participated in for the first time in my life.
When
Chellappa knew that I might not be staying back, he decided to honour me with a
Ponnadai (Shawl) for my association with the Tamil literary world through
Prabha Rajan Talent Foundation. The meticulously planned event also
witnessed the release of a book containing all 35 prize-winning stories by the
chief guest. Though I collected the certificate about the
Prize later, I managed to get the two copies of the book which
were given to all prize winners before leaving the venue. Chellappa had
ensured that all the prize winners had received their cash prizes through G Pay
on the morning of the event. Kudos to Chellappa and all his family members who
ensured that the programme was conducted in a grand manner befitting the
occasion.
At 6.00 pm,
I rushed to my daughter's function. Within a few minutes of reaching the
Convention Centre, the meeting started with the mandatory Tamil Thai Vazhthu,
followed by the National anthem. The surprise of the evening was R.U. Srinivas,
Kavitha's husband, singing the invocation song in Tamil, in his
melodious voice that set the tone for the action-filled evening that followed.
After the formalities of the outgoing President, Dharanija Ramakrishnan,
presenting the report of the activities of the Club during her year as the
President and the recognition of the team that made it possible, it was time
for my daughter to take over the mantle from her. It was a proud moment
for me, belonging to a family of Rotarians, to see my daughter, who was the Annette
of the Rotary Club of Madras South, of which both my younger brother Seshadri
and I are Past Presidents, take over as the President of another vibrant
club. After a brief but eloquent introduction of Kavitha by her talented
daughter Nila, supported by her son Arul on the graphics, it was over to
Kavitha. In her acceptance speech, Kavitha outlined the four major
projects she planned to undertake during her year as the President and made a
very passionate appeal for funds. The chief guest of the evening, Rtn. DGE
Dr Vijayabharathi Rangarajan, during her speech, was spontaneous in
committing Rs I lakh towards the club's projects next year. Apart from the
family and friends of Kavitha, including her brother-in-law who had
come from Bangalore specially to attend the function, there was a good
turnout of Co-Presidents of other clubs and District officials. It was an
evening full of “warmth, vibrant energy, laughter, friendship and a sense of
purpose”.
Rotary Club
of Chennai Spotlight is a dynamic Club with many talented members who get
involved in many activities of the club. I am sure Kavitha, a hardworking,
committed, people's person, will take the club to greater heights with the
support of her wonderful team. Wishing you all the best, Kavitha. God Bless!
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