Report of the 6th Session of “SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS”

“The Mylapore Trio” Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna, Sugathan and Members of Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation conducted the 6th ‘SUMUKHAIVA SADHAS’ – A Virtual Cultural Meet during this extraordinary pandemic situation and lockdown. It was a unique concept and a different conclave involving professionals of different genre. The congregation consisted of a Professor, Art Director, Chartered Accountants, Ph.D Research Scholars, Retd. Principal, P.G Teachers, Scientist/ Dancers, Musicians and Members of various fields. BIRDS OF “DIFFERENT FEATHERS’’ FLOCKED TOGETHER.

A platform was provided to a Speaker to talk on a subject of his/her choice or profession or expertise followed by a questionnaire session. After a gap of 4 standstill months, this new concept of an Intellectual Meet through Online ‘THREADING VARIOUS FLOWERS OF DIFFERENT NATURE’ was accomplished overnight. THE COMMON THREAD WAS THE FOUNDATION WHICH BINDS ONE AND ALL.

The 6th Session was conducted on Sunday, 9^th August, 2020 from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. The Programme began with the Prayer on the Trio's Foster Parents Smt. Sumukhi and Shri. Rajasekharan and their Grand Mother Smt. Nagammal, written and sung by Smt. Revathy Sankkaran.

Surendranth – An Art Director welcomed the gathering and introduced the Speaker Smt. Bharathi, whom he said was a Mylaporean. He said that she entered the job at the age of 18 and by virtue of her long service in the Govt., she was the apt person to give Career Guidance  which was her forte.

Amarnath as a History Professor added flavour to the topic by peppering some historical titbits. He traced the origin and concept of Employment Exchange to July 1945. After the II World War, in order to re-employ warriors into civil society, the idea of employment started. Later in 1959 the Employment Exchange Act was passed by the Govt. of India, thereby many centres were established all over the Country. All Govt. vacancies were to be compulsorily notified and recruited only through this. Recently in 2015 the Employment Career Service was started which was multi-dimensional in nature. It changed the concept of Employment altogether from its bottom. Its range widened viz., employment advice, counselling, guidance, training, opportunities, placement, career advancement etc. He thus traced the evolution of Jobs and Placements in India and opened the window to the subject.

Aparna – a Chartered Accountant, very enthusiastically introduced the Speaker Smt. Bharathi is a parent who entered our Foundation some 15 years back. She said that Bharathi has been closely associated with the Trio, Sugathan and others as a family member. She has been a part of most of the Programmes, Events and Spiritual Tours of the Organisation.

The Speaker Smt. Bharathi gave a very informative talk on the Topic “Career Guidance fulfils Aspirations” with the help of a dozen slides. She traced the origin of different jobs and professions from the Vedic Age, which was earlier based on profession. She also referred the “Ainthinai” from the Sangam age, where in the people adopted different professions based on the geographical regions in which they lived.

She explained the tremendous efforts taken by the Govt. of Tamil Nadu to open job opportunities to the youth in various spectrums. She said that there are 13 types of “Collared jobs” (based on the nature of the job like Green collared, Blue collared, White collared) available for the students to plan their profession- all are equally good and lucrative. She said reputed multinational companies have tied up with the State Govt. for selecting, training, recruiting, absorbing skillful and educated students in their respective companies.

Bharthi also said that the State Employment Dept. coaches students for various competitive exams with the help of experts. She had a sense of pride in stating that the State Govt. also runs a number of  ITIs which are considered to be the best in the Country. New and innovative subjects and courses are being introduced and patronised by the state which has thrown open new vistas for the youngsters to climb the career ladder fast and easy and reach the pinnacle.

She said that there are of Govt. websites and portals which is a “Ready Reckenor” for the job seekers. It opens up an array of studies, courses, faculties, jobs and tells us- what is next after this; she said that these portals give us a clear picture of how to plan the future. She applauded the earnest efforts of the Govt. for providing enormous opportunities for the students in getting them well placed through its nodal agencies. She answered number of questions, clarified doubts of the audience, gave proper advices and offered help to conduct workshops and awareness programmes in schools and other educational institutions.

Bharathi thanked the Mylapore Trio, Sugathan for giving her this opportunity to speak on her most favourite topic. She also offered her pranams to Rajasekharan, Sumukhi and Nagammal Paati for making her do this successfully.

The whole event was very interesting and lively and the audience were totally engrossed in the subject. The Speaker was very enthusiastic and her talk was with full information, guidance and educative in nature, which opened the eyes of many. She created an awareness about the earnest efforts of the govt in opening new jobs by innumerable ways and means, in consonance with the latest scientific and technological development.

Surendranath congratulated Bharathi for the wonderful and lively presentation. As it is customary to quote from the pages of Sumukhi and Rajasekharan (Both were an embodiment of forethought and farsightedness), Surendranth referred to Sumukhi Amma’s  farsightedness in choosing the subjects and professions of their fostered children, in the days of yore, when there was no iota of career guidance. He said that she chose Vis.Com for him when it was a subject totally unheard of and he was the Topper in it. She discovered the inborn artistic soul and skill in him and made him an Art Director. He said that she being a Teacher knew the right choice for her wards in which they would shine like a stars. He said that he has heard many telling her that if only Sumukhi Amma had come into their lives earlier for the correct guidance, their lives would have totally changed for the good.

Amarnath appreciated Bharathi for the interesting talk and appended the opinion of Surendranath. He shared a few thoughts and decisions of Sumukhi Amma which changed the course of the lives of many especialy her foster daughters of Susheela, Shanta & Devaki. Susheela was made a Teacher, Shanta a Health Visitor, Devaki a History Professor. It was almost 6 decades back when there was no awareness of what so ever about courses and jobs. Amarnath said that she chose History for him and he topped the class. He felt though History is considered to be a non utility subject the real utility lies in the way the subject is studied an understood. Anybody who excel in any subject will be successful. He said that Sumukhi Amma’s father sent her along with her sister all alone to study at the prestigious Queen Mary’s College and Presidency College in Madras from Bangalore during the British period. They stayed in the cosmopolitan hostel in QMC and completed their Graduation. That was the importance given to education and profession - chosen at the right time and correctly executed by the parents. That impact made her to select the Right Path for all of us.

Aparna said that Sumukhi Amma wanted her to become a Chartered Accountant and it happened. She was a Mathematics Topper and also excelled in Classical Dance and Sports. She felt that she was better placed among her commerce comrades in understanding the concepts and applying analytical skills. She said that Amma brought out the Inner Fire from every individual who came under her care.

The Second part of the Sadhas was ‘NATURO-UPAYA’ in which Sugathan – Secretary, who is also a Naturopath gave some Tips on natural remedies for ailments. Today he gave a recipe for Fever, Body Pain, Exhaustion. It was a hot concoction of Thulasi, Pepper, Cumin seeds and Palm Jaggery well boiled to the proportion of ½ and consumed twice a day. Also he pointed out significance and need of physical exercise in our day to day life, especially during this pandemic time.  It was well received and appreciated by all the visitors gathered at the Sadhas.

As per the diktat of the Foundation, all the participants were in Traditional Attire with Blue and Cream as the Colour Code.

The Programme ended with a happy note to meet again next week with a different Speaker and a Topic.