A man in the service of the needy : India

N.S. Venkataraman conducts free computer classes for senior citizens in Besant Nagar. Photo. M. Moorthy
N.S. Venkataraman conducts free computer classes for senior citizens in Besant Nagar. Photo. M. Moorthy

N.S. Venkatraman believes in simple living and high thinking

N.S. Venkatraman is a successful businessman without the airs of one. He travels by MTC buses.

He heads Nandini Consultancy Centre Private Limited, which is well known among chemical engineers and has its operations in Singapore too.

Venkatraman conducts free courses in spoken English and computer science for underprivileged students and graduates.

“Initiatives from individuals to solve social problems are as important as government welfare measures. Helping the underprivileged helps both the helped and the helper, ” says Venkatraman.

He founded Nandini Voice for the Deprived in 1995, a non-governmental organisation in Besant Nagar, with an aim to help the poor. “One of our objectives is to promote probity in public life and deliberate on socio-economic issues in an objective manner,” he adds.

Venkatraman believes in the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, Kanchi Paramacharya and Swami Vivekananda.

“My company is doing well. So it is essential that I share my income with someone who is less privileged. Mahatma Gandhi said that every person who has income beyond his needs should consider himself as the trustee of the society and live accordingly. When there is a desire to serve the cause of the downtrodden, simplicity in living inevitably happens,” says Venkatraman.

“Nandini Voice for the Deprived doesn’t accept any monetary donation. If someone comes forward to donate money to any deserving student, we ask them to hand over the money directly to the beneficiary. Because, I want them to feel the happiness of sharing their money with someone who badly needs it,” says Venkatraman. The NGO also conducts training programmes in the fundamentals of computer science for senior citizens. “Many of those who have enrolled for the programme are retired officials. We don’t accept any fee, even if they can afford it. The reason is that we want them also to help others in whichever way they can,” says Venkatraman.

The NGO also conducts essay competitions and debates to sensitise youngsters and others on various social and national issues. Whenever they conduct an essay competition, Venkatraman makes it a point to correct the essays himself.

He also believes that the pen is mightier than the sword and keeps mailing on various issues to Government and various newspapers. “When I was in my fourth year of chemical engineering course in Annamalai University, I wrote a letter to Rajaji suggesting that the formation of world government would bring about world peace. Though some would have viewed my suggestion as immature, Rajaji replied immediately in a postcard written in his own hand writing, calling my suggestion a good one.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Down Town / by L. Kanthimathi / February 21st, 2015

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