Forgotten Woman Leader for Social Reformation in Tamilnadu

We read many women leaders of Tamilnadu from the newspapers , magazines, books and from the a vast collections in search engine’s archive. But there are invisible women leaders, who took a lead among  successful men in their times, for social reformations and strengthening an oldest community people,  descendants of Pallava  kings.

 I wish to share about one such great young  woman of 27 years , of Tamilnadu, who lead The Vanniyakula Kshatriya First Women’s Conference , held at Ammur in North Arcot  Jilla, 70 years before, on 4^th March 1945, prior to independence in the world war time. She addressed the gathering on the communities ups and downs, Education, Women’s Duties and Village Development.  As the speech was in Tamil, I am not a competent enough to do an exact translation and so given here the brief content in my way, not contradicting the original speech.

( My sincere request to all the readers is, please go through the complete text of the speech as I believe all of us could read Tamil well, so that the minute detail of Smt.Dhayanidhi Devi’s speech can be enjoyed and  proudly shared to our next generation).

A brief biography about the noble woman :

Name : Smt. Dhayanidhi Devi

Daughter of : Sri.Raju Nayagar & Smt.Kanakambujam

Spouse:  Sri.N.R.Muniswamy Nayagar ,B.A.,B.L.,( Advocate )

Born on : 8^th August 1918

Married : 1^st July 1942 ( @Arakonam )

Died on : 14^th May 1962

Children : Four sons ( Sr.M.Chandarashekaran, Sri.M.Mohan, Sri.M.Devendiran and Sri.M.Sampathkumar)

The speech goes on like this. She addressed the women as ‘Sisters and Mothers’  and thanked all for honoring her to be the Felicitation Committee Head of the First  Women’s Conference of Vanniyakula Kshatriya Community and expressed her profound thanks to all for  getting together from all places in  and around the state.

She talked about the tough time of war, faced by all Indians and the economic constraint in all the states and gave hope to all that the war will end soon and victory and peace will surely come  for us. She also pointed out that wartime emergency support had been extended to the extent possible and may pardon if there is any shortfall. The ext topic she took was about Vanniyakual Kshatriya Community’s  ancient graceful days and present  lowness. We are the descendents of Chera , Chola, Pandiya Kings and Pallava kings, who ruled Kancheepuram and Mahapalipuram as capitals.

Though the population was about 40 lakhs, the community people holds a backward position in government positions and social orders because of spending money lavishly for mundane functions. But population keeps increasing.

Her  exemplary talk on ‘Education’  speaks on the importance of  at least secondary education  for our community people who cannot afford the expenses of higher education and try to use the P.T.Chengalvaraya Naicker’s free education schemes for higher education. Unless we are educated, we cannot achieve our goal of uplifting our people in the society. In our villages still people are illiterate and blindly put their thumb impression wherever a signature is required. Work oriented education will be helpful if anyone who could not pursue higher education.Now only few of our community  people are in city as  doctors, advocates , teachers and in government jobs. We should be given an important place in the society and our propaganda only can make our effort to attain the equal status among all.

She gave a wonderful  talk on the duties of women folk of our community. How to bring up our child for the better future of them in the society was stressed by her. Hygiene , education, good habits, character development, duty, dignity and divine  are the qualities to be inculcated among our children. Women are called as “Graha Lakshmi” and they have to live up to that. She explains how to receive the husband who comes from work and how a wife can support to the best possible way to add the house income by doing small craft works etc.

On the topic of Village Development , she insisted “ no to drinks “ and how to have a clean and healthy environment for self and the community. We have to build reading room, night school, co-operative bank and frequent meetings to socialize our community people.

Social Development depends on all the above reforms and  men and women should work selfless. Unity, self defense, patience,  continuous effort, belief in God, cooperation, peace, good thought and sacrifice will definitely  bring us success to  our community people in all walks of life. Respecting one’s God and  having a brotherhood relation among all community people is important.

She thanked the gathering for their patience hearing at the end.

To conclude this write up, I wish to share that Smt.Dhayanidhi Devi was my  sister Vasanthamala’s husband and my brother-in-law,Sri.M.Chandarashekaran’s mother .

Let us be proud of the great soul and there are many take away from her speech, which is applicable to all of us even today for a better living, family relationship and social responsibility.

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A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment Of Your Dreams

A Practical Guide To The Fulfillment Of Your Dreams

I picked up today from my shelf, a book so close to me, because of it’s simplicity in knowledge sharing, by seven , yet powerful principles that can easily be applied to create success In all areas of everyone’s life. It was published 20 years before in California, USA, authored by Deepak Chopra, who has changed millions of people’s life through his best selling books. He continues his journey for the benefit of all for conducting one’s life at the highest and most integrated level.

The Book – The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra

I wish to share the seven spiritual laws here. He concludes each chapter on how to apply. The 111 pages of pocket book will definitely change our life, if we once read it with involvement to understand each law and start applying it in our life, one law on each day of the week. Of course we have only seven days in a week.

1. The Law of Pure Potentiality

He says, “The source of all creation is pure consciousness.. pure potentiality seeking expression from the un-manifest to the manifest. And when we realize that our true  Self is one of pure potentiality, we align with the power that manifests everything in the universe.”

One way to access the field of pure potentiality is through daily practice of silence, meditation, and non-judgement.

2. The Law of Giving

Practicing this law is so simple: if you want joy, give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love, if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation. This will certainly work for individuals, corporations, societies and nation.

3. The Law of “ Karma “ or Cause and Effect

Whenever we make a choice , ask ourselves  two questions: “ What are the consequences of this choice that I am making?” and “ Will this choice bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?”

4. The Law of Least Effort

We can apply this law by making a commitment to take the following steps:

I will practice Acceptance of things as they are this moment, not as I wish they were.

I will take responsibility for my situation and for all those events I see as problems.

I will remain open to all points of view and not rigidly attached to any one of them

5. The Law of Intention and Desire

Intention is the real power behind desire. Learn to harness the power of intention , and you can create anything you desire.

6. The Law of Detachment

Relinquish your attachments to the known, step into the unknown, and you will step into the field of all possibilities and experience all the fun, adventure, magic, and mystery.

7. The Law of “Dharma” or Purpose in Life

Each one of us is here to discover our higher self or our spiritual life. When you are expressing a unique talent that you possess, the expression of that talent takes you into timeless awareness. When you combine your ability to express your unique talent with service to humanity, then you make full use of the Law of Dharma.

Let us practice The Seven Spiritual Law of Success so that we could reach  a critical mass of success people that could transform life on planet earth,

Deepak Chopra’s Global Network for Spiritual Success can be accessed to achieve spiritual success and fulfillment of our desires. There are plenty of other books by the author including timeless Mind, Creating Affluence, Unconditional Life are suggested for reading.

DIFFERENT STROKES

DIFFERENT STROKES

In today’s ( 28th January 2015 )  THE HINDU newspaper an article by Mr.Kolkar Mahabub Ali, speaks about ‘Different Strokes’. This is nothing but a simple stimuli managers use to motivate team members.

Dr. Eric Berne calls a stroke ‘ a unit of human recognition’.

A stroke can be verbal or non-verbal.

Positive strokes enhance an employee’s sense of self worth.

In their book, ‘The One Minute Manager’ , Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson said “catching the employees doing something right and instantaneously praising their behavior” would greatly motivate them.

I wish to say that this technique is “An old wine in a new bottle”. Because these kind of different strokes was told to me by my dad, about his own experiences in 1950s’ and 1960s’. He was working as a technician in Richardson & Cruddas, an European engineering company, managed by European Managers and later by Indian Managers, who followed the tradition of their predecessors in giving ‘different strokes’ to their employees. My dad used to say that while on duty, if any manager just stroked the shoulder of an employee, on their routine visits to shop floor, it is a guarantee that he will get a special increment in his salary! He too got such from his superiors.  I am attaching a photo of his mentor, Mr.H.V.Krishnaswamy, who is still in touch with me after my father’s demise. I too have learnt many good things from him.

My dad Mr.M.Devarajan

M/S M.A.Krishnamurthy, F.C.Mathias,H.M.Sonu Rao, Sundaram, R.C.Ramaswamy,H.V.Krishnaswamy & R.N.Vadival - mentors of my dad and mine too in R&C.

My dad's and my mentor Mr.H.V.Krishnaswamy

As I was also an employee in the same organization, I have my own experience of the ‘different stroke’ from my boss, Mr.A.K.Mudgal. If I finish an assignment given to me on time, he appreciates with small mementos like key chain or by verbal greetings.

My mentor in R&C Mr.A.K.Mudgal

It happened to me in Greaves Cotton from my mentors, Mr.R.Venkatachari, Mr.J.P.Dhawan, Mr.K.Balasubramanian, Mr.S.Girishkumar, Mr.A.A.Perera, Mr.K.G.Diwakar and Mr.Mainik Basu. I would have missed few others too.

Mr.J.P.Dhawan

In Schwing Stetter, where I completed my last tenure of employment, I had the same experience of different strokes from many of my mentors, from the top management to my immediate bosses. I wish to name them here: Mr.A.Sundaresan,Mr.M.Subramanian, Mr.A.R.Subramanian, Mr.V.G.Sakthikumar, Mr.S.Seenivasan ,Mr.Bisweswar Patra, Mr.K.Sethuraman, Mr.S.Vijay Babu .HR Head ,Mr.K.V.R.Kishore Babu’s style of ‘stroke’ is 5 Star chocolate and motivational books. I am proud to say that I am one such recipient!

Mr.A.Sundaresan

Mr.M.Subramanian

Mr.A.R.Subramanian

Mr.Bisweswar Patra

Mr.S.S.Seenivasan

Mr.V.G.Sakthikumar

Mr.K.Sethuraman

Mr.S.Vijay Babu

Mr.K.V.R.Kishore Babu

My conclusion is, 60 years back, no big management books or seminars to attend by a common employee and no training classes. But the rich experience, the then managers had from their mentors, made them to give ‘DIFFERENT STROKES’ to their team as an instant appreciation.

I attach one of my dad's and few of my mentor's ( of all the three great organisations I served )  photo here and miss few as I do not have in my archive.

I believe strongly that many others also  would have similar 'stroke' experiences like me. 

I appreciate  Mr.Kolkar Mahabub Ali for bringing to lime light , the simple stimuli mechanism of appreciation, to the young managers of present generation. 

My passion and Dr.Eugene Alcalay's Piano Recital in Museum Theatre, Chennai.

My passion towards Western Classical  Music and International Pianist Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s  performance  at Museum Theatre, Egmore, Chennai on 21^st Jan.2015.

Interest or passion or whatever  it may be, Western Music gave me a deeper impact in music ,since I saw the Movie “ The Sound of Music “  in 1965. A tuneful, heartwarming story, it is based on the real life story of the Von Trapp Family singers, one of the world's best-known concert groups in the era immediately preceding World War II. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria, the tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey. Christopher Plummer as Captain Georg von Trapp. 

Do-Re-Mi song from the movie inspired me and many who does not know much about Western  Music, prior to the screening of it.

Now I can say that my passion towards Western Classical  took a journey since then, when I was 13. Of course pop music of those times, Beatles, Elvis Presley , Donna Summer,  Abba , Boney M,  Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdink,  Michael Jackson and many other diverted my attention from Western Classical. But the inner love towards my original passion ignited my quest to listen few audio cassettes gifted by my  youngest brother, who was a student of Master Dhanraj, a great Pianist and Music Teacher in Mylapore.  South Indian  Music Maestro Ilayaraja has learnt guitar from him. The titles includes : Henry Mancini, Strauss, Franz Von Suppe, Budapest Philarmonic Orchestra conducted by Janos Sandor, George Fredic Handel, Beethovan Collection Symphony No.5, and  Tchaikovsky.

My daughter and son knows my love in Western Classical and gifts cassettes of my liking and asked me to listen in their absence ( on the lighter side ). But now my daughter learns Guitar in Iowa. My hectic work schedules preoccupied my personal space  so long and missed  many  concerts. But at last now , after retirement, I experience “ The Joy Of Not Working “ . This is the title of a book by  Ernie J.Zelinsky, and  I gifted  a copy of the book , bought and sent from US by my daughter, exclusively for him,  to my  mentor in my last employment.

My present collections are in the photo and I listen to one at least  daily. My daughter sent from abroad a pair of CD – Essential GUITAR Masterpieces featuring Legends Andres Segovia, John Williams, Juian Bream, Pepe Romera, Paco Pena and more of 35 collections.  My CD collections includes : George Greshwin ( 1898-1937 ), Leonard Brenstein ( 1918-1990 ) and Richard Wagner ( 1813-1883 ).

Coming to Dr.Eugene Alcalay’s biography, he is a native of Bucharest, Romania, playing piano at the age of two and composed at the age of eight. He became the first recipient of The Lenard Bernstein Scholarship at Indiana University School of Music, continued his graduation and Masters and finished his Doctoral degree in Piano Performance at The Juillard  School.  Currently he is an Associate Professor of Piano at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. His CD “ Lyrical Liszt” was released in 2008.

Yesterday’s  amazing recital  of Dr.Alcalay was an enchanting programme of four oldest compositions by : Georgw Frideric Handel ( 1685-1750 ) –Suite in G minor, Franz Schubert ( 1797-1828 ) – Sonata in C minor, Ludwing Van Beethovan ( 1770-1827 ) – Sonata in D major and Franz Liszt ( 1821-1886 ) – Les Preludes Symphonic Poem no.3  and  presented  three more  encores while closing with a loud applause.

The complete  600 odd seats of Musium Theatre ( established in 1851 ) was in full house with music lovers, admirers, learners ( like me ), instrument players and members of Chennai Western Music Association. The Piano courtesy – Musee Musical, Chennai ) . Dr.Alcalay was honored and felicitated in the closing ceremony. Pin drop silence was maintained in the hall of --- people . You may view many of his recitals in YouTube  and I too wish to post a short piece in my site. A great opportunity for Chennaites was used well  by many music  enthusiast.

 Long live Dr.Eugene Alcalay and his music.