Saturday, October 27, 2012

Man of the Millennium-Mr. Kalyanasundaram

Thanks to my friend M G Anantharaman who forwarded the following message:
________________________________________________________________



Man of the Millennium.....
  
Description: http://www.tamilvanan.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/palam-kalyanasundaram.jpg

Mr.Kalayanasundaram worked as a Librarian for 30 years. Every month in his 30 year experience(service), he donated his entire salary to help the needy. He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his needs. He donated even his pension amount of about ten lakh rupees to the needy.

He is the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the society. You can read more about him below.


All our Politicians, Film stars, Business magnets, cricketers  Press and we all Indians should be PROUD and also should be ashamed of ourselves. American Government has honored him but we Indians even don't know that such a personality exist amongst us.

Atleast have the courtesy to pass this on and on till the whole world comes to know about this Great Good Samaritan.

Hat's off Kalayanasundaram.. We Indians are extremely proud of you and proudly say "THIS HAPPENS ONLY IN INDIA"


  ."



Practising what he preaches

"We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute to the society in someway or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change."



Photo: R.M. RajarathinamA will to serve combined with a sense of social justice has been the guiding principle of P. Kalyanasundaram, who has spent over 45 years in social service. A gold medallist in library science, he is also an MA in literature and history. During his 35-year-career as a librarian at the Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district, he gave away all his salary for charity and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs. He has also come forward to donate his body and eyes to the Tirunelveli Medical College.
The Union Government has acclaimed him as `The Best Librarian in India'. He has also been chosen as `one of the top ten librarians of the world'. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, has honoured him as `one of the noblest of the world', while the United Nations Organisation adjudged him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century'. An American organisation has also selected him as the `Man of the Millennium.'
Mr. Kalyanasundaram, who has founded a social welfare organisation, `Paalam', shares his experiences in a chat with Prathiba Parameswaran.
SIMPLICITY IN life and exemplariness in practice has been the hallmark of Mr. Kalyanasundaram. Born in August 1953 at Melakarivelamkulam in Tirunelveli district, he lost his father at a very young age. It was his mother, who inspired him to serve the poor.
When he was at college, the Indo-China war broke out, and he contributed his gold chain to the then Chief Minister, Kamaraj, for the war fund. At this time around, he went to meet Balasubramanian, Editor, Ananda Vikatan. "He sent me away, saying he would write about me the day I donated something I had earned myself. I did not speak a word to anyone about what I had done. I took it as a challenge," Mr. Kalyanasundaram recalls. Ever since he got a job as a librarian in Tuticorin, he has contributed all his salary, pension benefits and ancestral property to social welfare. It was not until 1990, when he received his pension arrears and contributed it to the Collector's Fund, that the then Tiruneveli Collector felicitated him, despite his protests. The `Paalam' serves as a bridge between donors and beneficiaries: it collects money and materials from those willing to donate and distribute them among the weaker sections. It has also contributed to the cyclone relief funds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, and has helped the earthquake victims in Maharashtra and Gujarat. "We cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute towards the society in someway or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change," he asserts.
Mr. Kalyanasundaram feels that one must achieve something in his chosen field. His contribution to library science is immense. A thesis he submitted as part of his post-graduate course to the Madurai Kamaraj University fetched him distinction. He has also hit upon an easy way of tracing and accessing books in libraries.
His ability to strike a rapport even with youngsters is remarkable. He cites the instance when he started wearing khadi. At college, he was required to take classes on Gandhianism. "I had to speak about simplicity and everything Gandhi stood for, but I was clad in expensive clothes. That was when I decided to switch over to khadi," he relates. Since then he had always practised what he stood for, making himself a role model for many youths.
He was popular among college and school students, and many of them have joined his organisation.
He has long-term plans for his organisation. One is the setting up of a nationalised digital library with modern equipment, which could be accessed by people from all walks of life.
He also wants to set up an international children's university in Tamil Nadu, with foreign aid. However, he says, a mission has a meaning only when the right people are involved in it. The Directorate of Public Libraries should recruit people with a library science background to be librarians, he says. "And good librarians should have a broad knowledge of everything."

15 comments:

  1. The Hindu article at

    http://www.hindu.com/lf/2004/08/22/stories/2004082209260200.htm
    says that "" An American organisation has also selected him as the `Man of the Millennium."...no mention about the claim..."In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual"...nor can I verify if indeed the US Govt gives such awards
    Swaminathan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very inspiring! But could someone please provide more information on this? When I tried to look up for the list of people awarded the UN Public Service Awards from 2002 till date I could not find Mr.Kalyanasundaram's name in the list. Neither could I find an award named outstanding people of the 20th century given by United Nations! When I tried to research further this is what I found on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Kalyanasundaram_(2nd_nomination).

      It would nice if we find more information of such an inspiring personality! The only information I could find was this article published in Hindu in 2003 - http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/23/stories/2003042300060300.htm

      Delete
  2. Not only he got Man of the Millennium award. At same time, he have reached Million hearts through his service....great and remarkable achievement!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. (In recognition to his service, the American government honoured him with the ‘Man of the Millennium’ award. He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award )

    He has long-term plans for his organisation. One is the setting up of a nationalised digital library with modern equipment.

    He could have used 30 Crores for this which he received as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. wow....u might be the only one in the world who did this much for others hats offfffffff and u r unique no words to express

    ReplyDelete
  6. A big salute to you Sir. Yet another reminder to be humble and giving.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A real philanthropist and humanitarian ..long live and let GOD give him more energy and strength for his ongoing mission
    All the Best Wishes
    Murali Dharan.V.K , Dubai

    ReplyDelete
  8. to day i met legend mr p.kalyanasundarsm and spoke to me for 3 hrs without any break.we too are from same place called karuvelankulam.near kalakad,in tirunelveli dist and studied in KAMP MEERANIA HIGH SCHOOL IN KALAKAD.i realy saluted him navy tradition since i am a navy officer.

    ER V ANDITHEVAR
    CHENNAI-95

    ReplyDelete
  9. to day i met legend mr p.kalyanasundarsm and spoke to me for 3 hrs without any break.we too are from same place called karuvelankulam.near kalakad,in tirunelveli dist and studied in KAMP MEERANIA HIGH SCHOOL IN KALAKAD.i realy saluted him navy tradition since i am a navy officer.

    ER V ANDITHEVAR
    CHENNAI-95

    ReplyDelete
  10. Very inspiring! But could someone please provide more information on this? When I tried to look up for the list of people awarded the UN Public Service Awards from 2002 till date I could not find Mr.Kalyanasundaram's name in the list. Neither could I find an award named outstanding people of the 20th century given by United Nations! When I tried to research further this is what I found on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Kalyanasundaram_(2nd_nomination).

    It would nice if we find more information of such an inspiring personality! The only information I could find was this article published in Hindu in 2003 - http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/04/23/stories/2003042300060300.htm

    ReplyDelete
  11. He is not great .Charity can be dne by anyone

    ReplyDelete