The Hindu : R.K. Laxman among eminent persons honoured

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Thursday, Apr 01, 2004

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R.K. Laxman among eminent persons honoured

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, MARCH. 31. The Sankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, today honoured people who have excelled in their fields of activity and contributed significantly to the betterment of society.

Cartoonist R.K. Laxman, journalist Kuldip Nayar, jurist L.M. Singvi, long jump champion Anju George, former judge M.M. Ismail, theatre artist R.S. Manohar, Vedic scholar Mani Dravid, child prodigy Chandra Sekar, were presented a shawl, a citation, a traditional lamp and books by the Acharya at a function here. Since Mr. Laxman is indisposed, his granddaughter, Mahalaxmi Laxman, received the award on his behalf. Mr. Laxman had sketched a portrait of Sri Jayendra Saraswati with his "common man" offering pranams. Mahalaxmi presented this to the Acharya.

Chandra Sekar, the world's youngest Microsoft certified professional from Tirunelveli, is honorary director of the Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council project on Network by the Department of Science and Technology.

The Kanchi Acharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, honoured eminent personalities in Chennai on Wednesday. They are (from right) Anju George, L.M. Singhvi, Kuldip Nayar, R.S. Manohar, Chandra Sekar and Mani Dravid. Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati is also seen. _ Photo: Vino John

The Acharya also gave away awards to other eminent persons including T.N. Seshan, former Chief Election Commissioner, Suhadi M. Salam, Minister-Counsellor, the Indonesian Embassy, Irene, Princess of Greece, M.B.N. Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Indian Bank, and R. Parthasarathy, General Manager, Bank of Maharashtra, in recognition of their services.

The awards were presented on the occasion of the Acharya completing 50 years of sanyas. The Peetarohana Swarna Jayanti of the Acharya, the 69th Acharya of the Kanchi Math, began on March 22 last year.

It was during the golden jubilee year that the defunct Tamil Nadu Hospital here was revived and renamed Kanchi Kamakoti Sankara Hospital. This multi-speciality hospital and the proposed Sri Jayendra Saraswati Institute of Medical Sciences would add to the health care facilities in the city. During his visit to Andhra Pradesh he also inaugurated the Sri Sankara Eye Hospital at Guntur.

Sri Vijayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Math said that many such social service, welfare and religious projects had been taken up during the golden jubilee and some had been completed.

Others were nearing completion.

As part of the celebrations today, there was a Rig Veda Samhita Homam and Veda Parayanam by 1,008 Vedic scholars. Sri Vijayendra Saraswati performed a "pada puja" to the Acharya with 1,008 gold coins.

A golden jubilee commemorative volume containing the works and the preaching of Sri Jayendra Saraswati was also released on the occasion.

V. Shankar, industrialist, said the celebrations were the manifestation of the reverence of the devotees of the Kanchi Acharya.

About 900 select persons from the country and abroad, who had excelled in their fields of activity — including Vedic pandits, poets, social workers, artists, dandi sanyasis — have been honoured so far.

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