Unswerving will to serve

THEY CALL it Srinivas Young Men's Association (SYMA) though not all of them here are young - chronologically. Yet the urge to serve without reward, work without expectation and toil with the sole aim of bettering society keeps them youthful and going. It is more than two decades since the social service organisation came into existence. A group of youngsters in Triplicane were motivated by the elders of the area into channelling their energy in a positive and useful way. The result was SYMA.

"Looking back, we realise that if we have contributed our mite to social welfare, it was because of R. S. Ramanujam, Vijayakumar, Muralidharan, Soundararajan and such others, who were the driving force in the nascent stages of SYMA's activities," says its secretary T. J. Ramani.

The Young Men's Association initially started as a civic organisation and maintaining a pollution-free, clean Triplicane was the only agenda for which the youngsters strived then. The temple tank, in those days had been reduced to a public convenience. "We were sick of the environmental hazard and decided we had to do something about it soon," says the president of the association, N. Ganapathy - one of SYMA's old-young men. Of course none of them is actually old, because when they started SYMA in 1977 they were all just out of college.

R. V. Narasimhan is one of the vice-presidents of the association and T. A. Sampathkumar is another active secretary you are told.

So to inculcate the importance of hygiene and create awareness about pollution, these educated youngsters took upon the task of cleaning the streets of Triplicane. Slowly the public began to extend its cooperation. "No project can be a success without a helping hand from the people," says Ganapathy. Today, the dirty tank near the temple is a thing of the past.

And now it's on to wider horizons - like the recent rain water harvesting operations on an elaborate scale, successfully completed by SYMA - of course with approval from the authorities concerned. "We have done everything on our own, and no water that falls in and around the temple area would henceforth go waste. The water-table will definitely improve," Ganapathy's cheerful words spell optimism.

They voice with gratitude the help rendered by their Corporation zonal chairman P. Nagarajan.

"We are totally non-political and because of the name we have earned for our integrity, people like Mr. Nagarajan always come to our help," says Ganapathy.

A medical centre run with the help of the Kanchi Kamakoti Trust, is a boon for the economically backward in Triplicane. Free medical camps, eye and heart camps, in particular, and blood donation camps are part of SYMA's regular activities. The association has more than 200 blood donors on their list.

"We once needed 'B' negative blood for a patient. We contacted our regular donor and his daughter picked up the phone. "Dad gave blood just yesterday. Mine belongs to the same group. Please allow me to donate," she pleaded. The girl was just in school. That is the kind of motivation and service our youngsters have," Ramani observes.

The association is above any caste or creed discrimination. Being economically backward is the only criterion for SYMA to render assistance. This year the association combines its 24th anniversary celebrations with a uniform distribution function. Poor students from various schools will be given school uniforms for the year. "Based on recommendations from principals of the various government and aided schools and individual recommendations from members, we buy the material wholesale, cut it to the necessary length put it in covers and distribute them," says Ganapathy as he takes you to the scene of action. You see a group actively engaged in the task. "The function is tomorrow and the packets have to be ready by then," they say!

They insist you visit the medical centre too. Tiny, yet neat and well arranged, the place looks almost new. "Badrinath, a builder, has constructed it free for us" says Ramani.

SYMA also runs a book bank. They go round the houses and collect old text books, arrange it class and coursewise. Those unable to buy new books now bank on SYMA.

Recently they have extended their activity to procuring new books for five deserving college students every year.

But where is the time for so much social activity when all its members are full time employees, you ask. "We are a large group comprising the president, vice president, secretaries, treasurers, committee members and 200 members. All of us share the work," says Ganapathy.

The association is ably assisted by Prema Krishnamohan and her Soundarya Ratnamala music group. "It nearly functions as the women's wing of SYMA. Such is the service they offer," says Ganapathy.

The association takes immense pride in its Children's Day and Women's Day activities.

The youngsters of the 1970s have created a legacy in the area for the next generation to uphold - one that the residents of Triplicane can be proud of.

MALATHI RANGARAJAN

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