Septemper - 2004 Dear Friends, Recently I got an opportunity to visit some in such a way that they have to spend all the of the temples in both south and western money the temple has, in those two or three parts of India. There are many rich temples days. Why dont they save some money and many poor temples. Some of the temples from the festival collections and use it for have gold and silver glittering everywhere. The regular maintenance during the course of the marble floors and colourful walls and towers year? are no doubt very attractive to the eyes. I also heard some of the devotees talk about I dont understand why all the money available the golden chariot and diamond ornaments from public for contribution to temples should of the Gods and Goddesses. In the middle of go for selected few temples only. On the all this, Lord Muruga was standing, in his other hand, when many of the old temples palaniandi dress! There are many new dont get enough money for maintenance, temples, which have become popular due to why should people construct more and more various reasons. It is said that you can judge new temples? I have seen in villages, that one by the company he or she keeps. Similarly, there is a collection drive when they decide we can judge the God, based on the VIP to construct a new temple, but just after the devotees he is able to attract! temple is constructed, no one bothers about that temple! I also happen to visit some of the poorer temples. When the priest told me that two My understanding is temples should take us alwars have visited that temple many closer to spirituality and away from material centuries ago, it appeared as if I was the desires. Most of the current day famous next visitor after those alwars! Such was the temples will not be able to serve this purpose, condition of the temple. There were no funds at least for people like me. If some of us even for basic things in such temples. There decide to contribute to smaller unknown, but are old stone carvings in many temples, which old temples (which are large in number), rather indicate the kings who constructed these than to the famous few temples, we may be temples, also donated vast property to these able to solve the inequality among Gods! Also temples, so that maintenance is not a the glitter of too much gold and silver will problem. Today even God many not know fade away, and there may be a possibility to who is enjoying these properties. real spiritual thinking, when people visit temples. Why do we have rich Gods and poor Gods? Some of the village temples are always closed, Lord Muruga wanted only one mango, not a as there is no priest to attend and also there golden langot. are no visitors! So we also have orphan Gods! Some of the village temples see hectic activity Thanks & Regards during the annual festival. The villagers behave Murali development, Continuous improvement and constant Study Circle Meetings evaluation of things happening all over the world and Date : 07/08/2004 making suitable alterations. There was a slide show Book : Education for the Future on award winners in USA for excellence in their Author : Mr. Na. Arthanari respective fields. She ended the presentation with a Speaker : A.Annamalai quote of Gandhiji on performing actions without Venue : Service Centre worrying about results. The whole session was very Date : 21/08/2004 interesting and inspiring. Book : Silappathikaram Spreading the message of our Mentors Author : Ilangovadigal On 03/08/2004 Ms. S. Kavitha spoke to the students Speaker : B.Nirmala of Govt. Middle School, Magaral about Swami Venue : Service Centre Vivekananda. Date : 27/08/2004 On 04/08/2004 T. Nagaraj spoke to the students of Book : Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, the Middle school at Thamaraipakkam on Bharathiyar and Philosopher Children. Author : Mr.T.M.Soundararajan Speaker : S.Saravana Babu On 06/08/2004 Mr. T. Nagaraj spoke to the students Venue : Administrative Office of Higher Secondary School at Pandeswaram on Bharathiyar and Society. School Club Meetings External Training attended by our staff The English Club meeting was held on 04/08/2004. Mr. R. Vijayaraghavan attended the one-day workshop Students at first enacted common jokes in English. for teachers organized by Bharathiyar Evening School The initial hesitation gave way to enthusiasm and the at Thiruvanmiyur. Prof. Panneer Selvam of Nandanam students acted without any inhibition. The groups Mens Arts College provided training on the eight then played a word game. The confidence level of techniques of teaching slow learners and children with the students rose high and these activities are learning difficulties. expected to improve their conversational skills in Mr. T.R.Sarathy attended a meeting organized by the English. Tamilnadu Public Education Committee on 28/08/ On 08/08/2004 Ms. Thara, a volunteer, spoke to the 2004. They discussed about Uniform Education For members of the Science Club about Electronics and All Daily Life. Science Exhi1bition Leadership Training The annual 3 day Science Exhibition was conducted On 08/08/2004 Ms. Lakshmi Murali of Tata Consultancy from 11/08/2004 to 13/08/2004. Mr. Sethu Kumanan, Services addressed the unit leaders of Sevalaya and Correspondent of Sethu Bhaskara Higher secondary spoke to them on the concepts of performance School at Ambattur, inaugurated the exhibition on 2 Sevalayas News Letter 11/08/2004. The unique feature of this year exhibition Mr. Srinivasan of Balaji Nagar, Thiruninravur, took 18 is that an opportunity was given to the nearby inmates of our Old Age Home to Mangadu Kamakshi Government Schools to participate and put up their Amman temple on 06/08/2004. They had a good stalls. Govt Higher Secondary School Thiruninravur dharshan of the Goddess. and Govt Higher Secondary School Velliyur participated Training in the kitchen in the exhibition. The children had made models of Our children tried their hands in the kitchen. They the basic scientific principles they are learning at school cooked the dinner on 08/08/2004 and it was indeed and explained the concepts with confidence and a good effort. enthusiasm. The high light of the exhibition was a puppet - show Save the Earth conceived and done A dream coming true by the students themselves on the various factors Sevalayas dream of constructing a four-floor school polluting air and water and a fervent appeal by Mother building is coming true now. We already have 3 floors Earth to save her, creating awareness among the rural in one wing and two in the other wing. Chennai people. Mr. Chindai.K.Jayaraman, Principal and Willingdon Corporate Foundation has kindly come Correspondent of Angel Matriculation Higher Secondary forward to sponsor the construction of the remaining School, was the Chief Guest for the valedictory part of the school building. A formal prayer to start function on 13/08/2004. Many schools in Thiruvallur this construction was held on 27/08/2004. District and public from the nearby villages visited the We dare to dream exhibition, the quality of which was at par with similar Exhibitions organized by their counterparts in city It has been our dream to prepare our students to schools. enter professional institutions like Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). We have taken a small but sure Independence day Celebrations first step towards realizing it. Mr. Aneez Ahmed, Head On 15/08/2004 Independence Day was celebrated of the Physics Department of New College, Chennai, with much gaiety. As in the past years members of visited our campus on 28/08/2004. He gave an Ys Men Club of Anna Nagar West celebrated introductory lecture to the students of Classes X and Independence Day at Sevalaya campus with the XII about preparation for Entrance Examination for inmates. The National Flag was hoisted by Ysm. IIT. He has agreed to conduct a preliminary test to K.K.Janardhanan , Lt. Regional Secretary of Ys Men assess the students, select the probable candidates International. Ysm. Paul S. Rajan President of Ys Men for the Entrance Examination and conduct classes Club of Anna Nagar West and Ms. Alice Paul, President, for them once a week. He has offered his services Ys Mennettes Club were among the Chief Guests. voluntarily. It is a great morale booster to us. The children presented a colourful cultural Programme NCC & NSS Camps for ½ an hour. On a winning streak Members of the NCC cadets of New College, Chennai had a one-day camp on 28/08/2004. They cleaned Ms. Yamuna Rani and Ms. U.Radha participated in inter up the Old Age Home Campus. Home Quiz competition conducted by Navabharatham Students Welfare Trust on 15/08/ Members of NSS wing of Murugappa Polytechnic had 2004 and bagged the second prize. a one-day camp on 28/08/2004. They presented various cultural programs and conducted various Our students participated in an oratorical competition competitions for the children. Prizes were distributed conducted on Shri.N.Krishnaswamy memorial day and to the winners. Ms.Thenmozhi, won a consolation prize, on 25/08/ 2004. The topic was Let us dedicate ourselves and We participated create a new world. Managing Trustee Mr. V.Muralidharan and Trustee, Mr. Temple Visits K. Mohan were the Chief Guests for the Onam celebrations at the Soka Ikeda College of Arts and The children were taken to temple at Pakkam Village Science for women on 28/08/2004. on 06/08/2004. Sevalayas News Letter 3 THE CHENNAI CONNECTION. The sprawling metropolis of Chennai has its the best of modern education and were origin 365 years ago.