Mexican poets with Mr. VA.Mu. Sethuraman, President of the Meet and others.
This TALE 35 will focus on a great event that took place on Wednesday, the ninth October this month in a fantastic and unique higher educational institution on the outskirts of the great city of Chennai .
The SOKA IKEDA COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE FOR WOMEN, Chennai (an ISO certified Institution and the proud recipient of “THE INSTITUTION OF EXCELLENCE AWARD” conferred by the Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, New Delhi) founded by
Dr. Sethu Kumanan, one of the greatest educationists of Tamilnadu.
He is Dr. Sethu Kumanan hailing from the rural hamlet Kandaramanickam, Sivagangai District is the son of a very great and humane teacher Mr KR Sethu, who is a legend on his own. Mr Kumanan graduated from Raja Duraisingam Memorial College affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University and pursued higher studies in Annamalai University.
He has a passion for teaching and he is a true educationist.
He has received innumerable awards including MUDIYARASAN AWARD on 7th inst. At Karaikudi.
He is a passionate writer. Our former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdulkalamji has appreciated him personally for his collection of poems written in Tamil.
He has written many books including Malaysia Manimakudam, Idayathul Israel, Masakthi Ikeda, Mexicovil Tamil Kavidaigal and Petra – A travelogue of the trip to Jordan – A compilation of photographs.
He has infinite talents in the film media and he had produced many short films like “Veeramangai Velunachiar”, a film on the brave historical women, “Ellaiyilla Paarvai” – Vision beyond boundaries. These films had the vision to create values in the younger generation. The short film titled “Kadavulai Kandaen “– Saw the Almighty – a real story of Sethu Bhaskara School student, “Bimbam” -to highlight the value of parents and the need to take care of them in their old age and the film titled “Kalviyin Kaimaru”-to inculcate the humane quality of compassion in the mind of everyone are some of his exemplary works and masterpieces.
He is the Correspondent & Managing Trustee of the Sethu Valliammal Educational Trust which renders yeomen service to the society by running many educational institutions of repute, which include:
Sethu Bhaskara Matric. Higher Secondary School (Recognised by Govt. of Tamilnadu), Pudur, Ambattur.
Dr. Ikeda Karunayagam, Anna Nagar West, Chennai.
Sethu Bhaskara Technical Institute, (Recognised by Govt. of India and Govt. of Tamil Nadu)Kandramanickam, Sivaganga Dist.
Soka Ikeda College of Arts & Science for Women (Affiliated to Madras University) , Madhanangkuppam, Chennai 600 099.
Sethu Irani Matriculation School, Kandramanickam.
Sethu Bhasakara Agricultural College and Research Foundation, Visalayankottai, Karaikudi.
Dr Sethu Kumanan holds the prestigious post of the Honorary Senate Member, Middle East University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. He is the Editor & Publisher Iniya Ikeda ( An International Magazine) and the Managing Trustee, Village Community Hall – Sri Manickanachi Amman Marriage Hall, Kandramanickam, Sivagangai Dist.
He has visited many countries and participated in several International Poets Conferences. They are Meets held in Turkey, Israel, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Finland, Slovakia, S. Korea, Mexico, Greece, Romania, U.S.A, Switzerland, Australia, Mongolia and Hungary. He has visited more than 60 countries encompassing all the continents and far-flung areas like Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world.
Dr. Sethu Kumanan aspired to achieve something significant in the field of education. With the moral and financial support of his maternal uncle and father-in-law Mr Sethu Bhaskaran, he started a school in 1988 under the banner “Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary School” at Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai 600 053 with just eight students. The school has now grown up with the guidance and support of numerous well-wishers to the extent of producing state ranks. The school strength is now nearly 8000.
The school imparts value-based education to children, who are mostly first-generation school-goers. Hailing from an economically backward family, Dr Sethu Kumanan could appreciate how financial difficulties could hinder the academic progress of an individual. Sethu Bhaskara MHS school offers concessions within its means and occasionally beyond, to the needy, so as not to deprive a child of knowledge just for want of money.
In Sethu Bhaskara, apart from offering free education and fee concessions to the wards of their staff, the school tries to extend the facility to other students also – parentless, fatherless, financially backward and on medical grounds. Around 248 students enjoy free education. These students and the visually- challenged will come under the banner Dr. Ikeda School Students. The meritorious students – proficient in academics as well in sports are given free education to encourage them and to motivate other students.
Sethu Bhaskara School enjoys the pride of being the first English Medium School in India to launch Integrated Education for the visually-challenged children. The School Management willingly and happily bears the responsibility of providing free education, transport, uniform etc. to the twenty-two visually-challenged students who are covered by this scheme.
The most striking part of this scheme is the mingling of these students with the students in the general stream, by which they attend classes along with the normal children in the regular classrooms. As these children are able to mingle with other students, they gain the confidence that they can cope up with the peers who have normal vision.
Dr. Sethu Kumanan strongly believes that it is not enough just to sympathise with the visually-challenged. Instead, we should see what best can be done for them. That is the reason why all efforts have been taken to initiate to help the visually-challenged enjoy their rights to live happily as others do, by giving them education, which is like eyes to every human being.
Dr. Sethu Kumanan started an Industrial Training Center in his native village Kandramanickam in the year 1997 “ Sethu Bhaskara I.T.C.” with an aim to make them capable bread-winners. The students are trained in different fields – Fitter, Wireman and Electrician etc. Around 300 students have successfully completed the course and are now comfortably placed locally and abroad. He has also started Sethu Irani Matric.Hr.Sec.School in the year 1998 to impart education to students in his native village. More than 500 students are studying.
Taken up by the viewpoint of the great Japanese philosopher Dr.Daisaku Ikeda, an enthusiastic educationist and ardent follower of Gandhian principles, Dr. Sethu Kumanan decided to follow his path. Dr.Ikeda, his mentor, fervently believes in educating the people of the rural area and in the empowerment of women. His adoration for this noble personality lead to the founding of a college exclusively for women, an institution to cater to the educational needs of the rural women in the name of the renowned educationist “ Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai 600 099 in the year 2000. Rightly as the banner specifies, the college imparts value-based education.
It is a matter of pride that the college has been identified as the “Institution of Excellence” by the National Advisory Committee of Indian Council of Gandhian Studies, New Delhi for the services in the field of women’s education and empowerment.
The Father of our Nation has said, Agriculture is the backbone of our nation. However, it is disheartening to see that agriculture is being denied prominence and fields are being transformed to plots for construction. With a vision to revive the interest of the younger generation in farming, he has started Sethu Bhaskara Agricultural College and Research Foundation at Visalayankottai, Karaikudi Taluk, very close to his native place, Kandramanickam, Sivagangai District
Dr. Sethu Kumanan’s dreams are thus coming true by the Grace of God and the good wishes of countless well-wishers. There are yet many dreams of his to take shape, in the words of Robert Frost.
“And miles to go before I sleep And miles to go before I sleep”.
His service in the field of Education is tremendous. Pudur and Madhanangkuppam have found their place in the Indian map of education on account of Dr.Sethu Kumanan. Here is a great man who strives for women empowerment. Thanks to his noble vision, many girls of the rural area of Madhanangkuppam have become graduates and have been placed well in reputed organizations.
The best feature of his character is his humility. It is this humbleness that makes him all the more a great personality.
A helping hand to the needy “hands that help are better than the lips that pray.
Dr. Sethu Kumanan is a benevolent giver who is ready to help the needy. He has helped so many financially backward students in their education.
Dr. Sethu Kumanan hosted SIXTEEN Mexican Poets in the MEXICAN POETRY CENTER in his college referred to above in which several Indian poets including this blogger were invited. College was the venue of the Meet.
The following Mexican Poets and Indian Poets participated in the Meet. With a well-laid agenda, there was an Exhibition and Presentation-Literature and Poetry, India, Japan and MEXICO.
After a pleasing invocation praying Lord Ganesha, Dr R. SandhyaChairman Dr.Sethukumanan addressed. Madam Lakshmi welcomed the guests. All the Guests were honoured in our traditional manner. After some discussions, poems were presented by all the participating poets.
HEARTY WELCOME SPANISH POETS!
India that is Bharat- my sacred holy Motherland great
Taught us “ATITHI DEVO BHAVA”-treat guests as Gods sure a treat!
Hearty welcome, learned Spanish poets-with a culture holy
You are welcome with your rich heritage and tradition jolly! (4)
Spanish literature- poetry, prose, and drama in thy language
In the Kingdom of Spain development coincided with Catalan Literature, Galician gels well with Latin, Jewish, and Arabic traditions. Literature of Spanish America important branch of Spanish literature, With its own particular characteristics from the earliest years of Spain’s Conquest of the Americas quite impressive worthy of gains! (10)
In Medieval Spanish literature, vernacular Romance-based literature, Mix Muslim, Jewish, and Christian culture. Great is the epic matured Poem Cantar de Mio Cid, written in eleven hundred and forty. Lyric Poetry in the Middle Ages has popular poems and the courtly poetry
Of the nobles. In the Renaissance important topic was art of poetry. (15)
In romanticism era the beginning of the nineteenth century nice
Topics are: the poetry of Espronceda”>José de Espronceda and other poets-wise.
In modernism several currents appear: Parnasianism. Symbolism, And Creationism. Around nineteen twenty younger group of poets
Began publishing works that revealed the extent to which younger
Artists were absorbing the literary experimentation of the earlier writers. Poets were closely tied to formal academia- wonderful creators! (22)
The Spanish Civil War had an adverse impact on Spanish writing. Among the handful of civil war poets and writers, Miguel Hernández stands out. You are from such a glorious tradition!
We in Chennai extend warm welcome with admiration! (26)
Post Lunch there was a very nice cultural program by the students-dance and singing. The cultural program was well received by the visiting dignitaries.
On the whole the occasion was great and hard to get back ! Green memories will remain so for years to come!
Mexican poets around the Rangoli greatly appreciated and enjoyed by them
(Photos sent by Prof. Kanmani of the college)
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