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Memorable Walking down memory lane

Two women, Aruna Visveswar and Janaki Jambunatha, responded. Within minutes, Ms. Janaki had to leave the place due to prior commitments. Ms. Aruna, who remained, found it to be a platform to bring out her latent talent.

Soon, she mobilised 20 women members, which is mandatory to form a chapter, and started the JCI Madurai Meenkashi. Today, the 25-year-old chapter is as vibrant as it used to be in 1983. Madurai Meenakshi is the second women chapter of JCI at the national level, the first being Mahalakshmi in Mumbai that became defunct a few years ago.

“Name a field, a Jaycee can be found in the forefront. As members of the women’s group we play multiple roles as mother, social worker, business women and we do it perfectly, passionately and meticulously with the JCI background,” says Valli Annamalai, one of the past presidents of Madurai Meenakshi.

Ms. Valli, honorary secretary of Indian Council for Child Welfare, has literally waged a war against female infanticide in the Usilampatti and Chellampatti area of Madurai district and achieved a consistent zero death rate among infants in Usilampatti, besides organising a girl child project.

She recalls that the decision to become a Jaycee has been a turning point in the lives of majority of members.

This organisation has broadened our horizons and made our lives worth living.

“Ask any successful man or woman of the chapter, they are sure to give full credit to JCI for their success. Involvement in the JCI can create such a tremendous impact on a person’s life. All that is needed is an open mind and a willingness to make one a better person,” she says and adds that the process is determined by the amount of effort, time and energy a member puts in.

For a woman in the age group of 18-40 years with a concern for personal development, community development and world development, the Junior Chamber is an excellent avenue towards the achievement of her goals, Ms. Valli says.

“It is not a club but a chapter that identifies individual skills and nurtures them to excel,” says Ms. Aruna, who is Principal of SDH Jain Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

Educational institutions focus more on passing examinations with good marks and getting a job with a hefty salary rather than personality development.

“Life is much more than just doing a job. Life is caring, sharing, understanding, loving and serving and the Jaycees strive to set right inadequacies in the development of individual members,” she says. Khursheed Majeed, past president of Madurai Meenakshi and a trainer in personality and leadership programmes, has come a long way from being an ordinary housewife. She is now a well known personality in the city.

Mehroon Ismail, a successful businesswoman, also attributes her success to Madurai Meenakshi.

With knowledge of time management and the skill of tackling different kinds of people, Mehroon Ismail was able to find a lot of time to spare that made her successful.

Madurai Meenakshi was a right launching pad that provided a good take off to excel and be whatever she is today, says Chitra, a freelance corporate trainer.

“This is one organisation that supports the philosophy of learning by doing and caters to all areas,” she notes.

Madurai Meekashi has organised various innovative programmes, competitions for women, exhibitions and seminars. In the past, the chapter adopted a village, Manalur, and worked for its development. It also established a children’s library, ‘Manasa.’

Whenever the chapter encountered lack of patronage, senior members joined hands and lead it with much perseverance up to the silver jubilee podium.

Sumathi Gnana Guhan, newly elected president of the chapter, hopes to rejuvenate ‘Manasa’ and follow up Manalur’s development.

She hopes to take the chapter to its golden jubilee.

These women have proved themselves in a men’s world. If you are an individual who really wants to work for personal and community development, call Madurai Meenakshi at 9443383238.

A right launching pad that provides a good take off to excel in all phases of life

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