Report of the General Secretary Shri.S.Subramanian on the activities for the year Good Evening to all of You! I am very happy to Welcome you all for this 3 rd Tamil Sangam. Annual General Meeting of Gurgaon I am pleased to inform that Gurgaon Tamil Sangam has been able to organize a good number of Programmes during the year with the whole hearted support and active participation of Members, families & Children and the Executive Committee Members. Brief report on various activities of our Sangam since Last AGM is as under. 1. PICNIC 31.12.2011: In the Executive Committee meeting held after the last AGM on 20.11.2011, a suggestion was made that a PICNIC to a nearby place shall be organized so that the families can meet and interact. Accordingly,it has been decided to organize the PICNIC to Bhondsi Ashram which is Gurgaon s ecotourism hub away from the dissonance of the city and is a farm house of former PM (Late) Shri Chandrasekar, located behind BSF camp near Bhondsi. Tucked away in a green belt near Gurgaon, extending over 588 acres, it is covered with thick foliage and natural lakes abound. With a nice cycling track and nature walks just 10- minute drive from the city, Bhondsi has grown popular as a picnic spot. There is a beautiful temple dedicated to Goddess Bhuvneshwari atop a hill as well as tons of statues scattered around. Gurgaon Tamil Sangam organised a PICNIC for 31st December 2011, Saturday from 11AM to 4PM to this scenic location. About 150 people including many children were enthusiastically participated in Picnic. Fun and active Games for Children, Ladies & Gents and Anthakshari were organized at site and prizes were given to winners. Catering Arrangements were made at site to provide Vegetarian Lunch, Snacks and Tea / Coffee. Being the end of the year, we also celebrated as an occasion to welcome the new year. 2. PONGAL CELEBERATIONS - 15TH JANUARY 2012 : On the eve of Thamizhar Thirunaal Pongal, the famous harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, we have organized various programmes in association with the famous Tamil Daily Dinamani on 15 th Jan 2012, Sunday from 4PM to 8PM at Shri Siddhi Ganesha Cultural Society. Large number of Ladies and Children participated in the competitions and Prizes were distributed to winners and also for all participants. The Programmes include, i. Kolam Competition for Ladies ii. Drawing competition for children upto 12 years under the theme Pongal/Harvest Festival. iii. iv. A programme titled Tamil Maalai - presented by the Tamil Class Students of Gurgaon Tamil Sangam which was well appreciated. Power Point Presentation was made on the Activities of our Sangam for the information of our Members. v. Speech by Vazhga Vazhamudan Team. vi. Pattimandram under the tiltle ILLARATHTHAI NALLARAMAHA AAKKUVATHIL PERUM PANGU VAHIPPATHU AANKALA? PENKALA?. ( i.e A Debate on Whose contribution is more in bringing up the home better- Ladies or Gents ) which was organized for the first time in Page 1 of 5
our Sangam. The Pattimandram was Chaired by famous Tamil Kavigner Shri.Sindhukavi Sethuramalingam. While Tamil Scholars Shri.Karuppaiah Bharathi and Smt. Sathya Ashoakan both from Delhi argued in support of Gents, Smt. Gauri Ilangoavan from Delhi and our member Shri. K.P.Ravinath argued in support of Ladies. It was an interesting event enjoyed by all. Chief Guest of the function was Shri Vaithianathan, Chief Editor of Dinamani from Chennai who has appreciated the activities of this budding sangam and assured continued support from Dinamani for the growth of the Sangam. 3. Tamil New Year Celebrations-15th April 2012: In order to celebrate the Tamil New Year in a special way, we had organized a special programme 15 th April 2012 at Shri Siddhi Ganesh Mandir from 4PM to 8PM in association with VGP Housing. Various Special Programmes were Organised on this event which include, i. Singing competition for children in which many children participated with enthusiasm to sing Tamil Songs. Prizes were distributed to winners and all participants. ii. iii. iv. Motivational Speech on "POWER OF MIND" by Mr M.Sivakumar the renowned Corporate Trainer from Chennai. Sitar Hindustani classical music by Selvi.C. Vaishali who has played Sitar and got the blessing of Shri Partha Sarathy Swamy Temple Triplicane Chennai. She had also played Sitar for Art of Living organized by Shri Ravi Shankarji which became Guiness World Record for having 1094 Sitarist on stage. Tamil Isai ( Carnatic) by our member Mrs Srividya Gowrishankar v. Tamil Light Music by Surabh s Melody - Mr S.Chandramohan & party,an up-coming Noida based Light Music band /Orchestra Chief Guest for this Occasion was Shri.S.Ramasamy, Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd who has delivered an excellent speech in Tamil. A contributory Dinner was also organized 4. Launching of Web site: In order to maintain an identity for our Sangam and also to send messages about various activities of the Sangam to our members and other well wishers we have launched our web site http://www.gurgaontamilsangam.com. This web site was developed, registered and is being maintained by Shri Haribala, Director, Systems Life Cycle Ltd, Gurgaon as a service to our Sangam. We are very much thankful to him for this great service. All information about activities of our Sangam, Contact Details, Photo Album, Membership Forms are available and regularly updated. This has become a bridge between our Sangam and those who are coming to Gurgaon for the first time. We have received many calls for information from the people of Tamilnadu and also from abroad when they have planned to migrate to Gurgaon and we have extended / guided them in all possible ways. This web site was formally launched by Shri S.Ramasamy, Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd on the eve of Tamil New Year Celebrations. Tamil version of our web site will be launched as soon as possible. Page 2 of 5
5. Charitable Activities: 5.1 Distribution of Books & Note Books to Schools: As an act of Social responsibility Gurgaon Tamil Sangam has selected two schools i.e Sankalp in DLF Phase IV and the Govt Sr Secondary School in Chakkarpur Village in Gurgaon where poor children are studying and provided them with Note Books. We have donated Good Books in English and Hindi which included Dictionaries, Encyclopedia, Short Stories etc for Library in these schools. We take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our members Mr KN.Devraj, Mr Hariharan, Mr Gowrishankar, Mrs Srividya Gori Shankar, Mr Sivasamy, Mr Punnaivanam, Mrs Charushree and Mrs Vijay Laguduva Bhaskar who have supported us for this activity. We also thank all those members who have given the books for distribution. 5.2 Drinking Water Facility for Govt Sr Secondary School, Chakkarpur Village: In the Govt Sr Secondary School while thankfully accepting the books donated for their Library, they have also requested us to arrange to Provide a Sintex water tank with associated pipeline for providing Drinking water for the School Children. We have accepted their request and provided the same at a total cost of about Rs 8,000/- and it was inaugurated by our President. The Principal of the School thankfully accepted the same and issued an appreciation letter. We express our sincere thanks to Mrs Malini Mohan, Mr KP.Ravinath and Mr S.Subramanian, Mr Mc Jayaraman and others who have donated for this noble cause. 6. Story Telling & Book Release by the Publishers Katha - 28th July 2012-: In order to promote the Literature,Gurgaon Tamil Sangam provided a platform to Katha publishers who brings children into the colourful world of literature through its splendidly illustrated storybooks in English and Hindi, especially the stories from other regional languages to launch one of their famous Tamil short story Our Teacher, written by the well-known writer Sundara Ramaswami. The Book was released by our President and received by Mrs Gowri Palachandran. She also narrated the story for the Children assembled. 7. An Evening with Doctors for Sound Health amidst Hectic Life : 12th August 2012. In order to promote Sound Health amidst Hectic Life, we have organized this interactive event by bringing together Various Health Specialists hailing from Tamil Nadu and practicing in Gurgaon. The panel of Specialists include Dr.Ramakrishnan, Dermatologist, Dr.Nirmala Krishnan, Gynacologist, Dr. Vanathy Ganesh, Opthalmologist, Dr.Premalatha Krishnan, Pediatrist and Dr.Geetha Sridhar, Dentist. It was a rare opportunity to every one present to hear from them and clear their doubts. This interactive session was well received and appreciated by all. There was wide coverage of this programme in the Tamil Daily Dinamani. 8. Independence Day Celebrations 15 th August 2012: Independence day was celebrated in a grand manner on. In the morning, one of the senior member of our Tamil sangam Shri Nagarajan hoisted our National Flag in the grounds adjacent to the Shri Siddhi Ganesh Mandir in the presence of President of our Tamil Sangam, Shri.R.Ganesh, other Committee members and Children. 9. Media Coverage: Wide coverage of all our Sangam Activities were published by the famous Tamil Daily Dinamani as well as Dinamalar in their on line edition and extended their full support for Activities of our Sangam. The Tamil monthly from Page 3 of 5
Delhi Vadakku Vaasal and a weekly edition from Gurgaon Friday Gurgaon had also given coverage of some of our events. 10. Tamil Classes: As many of us are away from our home state, in order to provide opportunities for learning Tamil, especially for our Children, we had started the Tamil classes as a service on behalf of our Gurgaon Tamil Sangam on 28 th August 2010 with the objective of giving them training for reading & writing and also speaking well in our mother tongue Tamil. These classes are being conducted regularly on every Sunday morning for about 1 hour in the Shri Siddhi Ganesh Cultural society premises. At present there are 13 students who are learning Tamil in our classes. Classes are being taken by our General secretary Shri.S.Subramanian and our Executive Committee Member Smt. Dharini Thiyagaraj. I am proud to say that most of them are attending the classes regularly since beginning and have grown to a good stage in reading and writing. Thirukural, Aathichoodi, Bharathiyar Songs etc are also being taught to them. Recently we have enrolled all of them in the on line courses being conducted by the Tamil Virtual Academy by the Tamil University supported by the Govt of Tamil Nadu. 6 of them are enrolled in the Intermediate level and 5 are enrolled in Basic level. They will be appearing for the formal examinations of the Tamil University in May 2013. They will receive Certificates from this University run by the Govt of Tamilnadu. We are thankful all the children of the Tamil Class and especially their parents for encouraging them. Our special thanks to all those who has been inspiring us and encouraging us in this activity. In order to increase the participation in Tamil Classes, we welcome volunteers to teach Tamil either in the regular on going weekly classes in the Siddhi Ganesh Mandir or to teach Tamil as a service from their place of residence at suitable timings for the benefit of those residing in their localities across Gurgaon. In this regard Tamil Sangam would be glad to provide them necessary guidance and support. 11. Memberships: As on date, there are 138 Life Members and 111 Annual Members in our Tamil Sangam. Thus, about 249 Members and their families have been supporting the activities of the Sangam. However, it is to inform that majority of the Annual Members, who have joined initially are yet to renew their memberships. As a special case, our Committee had offered that for first renewal of Annual memberships can be converted to Life Membership if they pay only the differential amount. i.e Rs 750/-. I request every one of them to kindly come forward to renew their memberships and also actively participate in the future functions of the sangam. 12. Cordial Relationship with other Social Organisations: Our Tamil Sangam is also maintaining cordial relationship with other social organizations which include Delhi Tamil Sangam, Avvai Tamil Sangam, Noida, Dwarakalaya in Dwaraka and Muthamizh Peravai, Delhi etc. Our representatives also participated in the events organized by these organizations. We have also participated in the first anniversary celeberations of Dinamani Tamil Delhi which was held at Delhi Tamil Sangam on 2 nd June 2012. our General Secretary was given an opportunity to deliver a speech on the activities of our Sangam on this occasion. They gave a good coverage for Gurgaon Tamil Sangam which also appeared in the Delhi Edition on 4 th June 12 and All India Edition on 5 th June 2012.Delhi Tamil Sangam expressed their full support to our Gurgaon Tamil sangam in its endeavors. Page 4 of 5
On 15 th Sep 2012, Dinamani and Delhi Tamil Sangam had jointly organized a summit of Tamil Sangams in India and abroad. On this occasion, a senior member of our Sangam Smt Sharadha Srinivasan (Charushree) gave an enlightening speech about the activities of Gurgaon Tamil Sangam which gave good visibility to our Sangam 13. I would like to thank our Auditors M/s.V Shankar Iyer & Co for timely completion of Audit and Certification of accounts. They have been doing it as a service to our Sangam. I also thank our Treasurer Shri. Umashankar who had compiled the Accounts and Smt.Geetha Ganesh who had co-ordinated with the Auditors. 14. As a whole, all the functions of our Tamil Sangam could be conducted successfully with the full support of all the Office Bearers, Executive Committee Members and other Members and their families and we thank every one of them for their contribution. I express my sincere thanks to the President Shri.R.Ganesh, Vice President Smt. Lakshmi Raghupathy, Treasurer Shri.Umashankar, Jt Treasurer Shri.G.Ravishankar, Jt.Secretary Shri S.Punnaivanam, Jt.Secretary Smt.Anandhi Giridhar and Executice Committee members Shri.TR.Bhaskaran, Shri.M.Subramaniam, Smt. Geetha Ganesh, Smt.Dharini Thyagaraj, Shri.D.K.Bhaskaran, Shri.K.P.Ravinath, and Shri.G.Ramesh, who have extended their full co-operation and support for effective functioning of the Sangam. I also express our gratitude to our Past President Shri V.Gopalakrishnan and the famous Tamil writer Smt Charushree for their support and guidance. 15. I also express my heartfelt thanks to the President and Governing Body of the Shri Siddhi Ganesha Cultural Society who have been permitting us to utilize their premises for all the functions of our Sangam and also to conduct meetings and weekly Tamil classes. Our special thanks to the Manager, Priests and staff members of Shri Siddhi Ganesh Mandir who are also extending their support as and when required. 16. I thank every one of you present here for this 3 rd Annual General Meeting of Gurgaon Tamil Sangam and also other members who could not participate in the AGM due to their pre-occupation. 17. I request all the members and their families to actively participate in the future activities of the Sangam. Any suggestions from all of you for betterment of our Sangam activities is always most welcome. With the above words, I submit this report to the General Body. Thanking you all once again, Yours Sincerely (S.SUBRAMANIAN) General Secretary Page 5 of 5