Last Sunday, morning walkers at Mooligai Poonga at Otteri were all ears as 70-odd people, sitting on the green lawns of the park, delivered short speeches.
These are members of the latest chapter of the Thiru-Vi-Ka Speakers Forum, whose members meet at parks across the city with the purpose of developing public speaking skills.
Parks are some of the best public speaking venues or meeting grounds for many oganisations.
For over 13 years now, parks have been the venue for members of the Thiru-Vi-Ka Speakers Forum.
The Forum was started in 2003 at three parks and it has now expanded to 17 chapters. There is an noticeable increase in the number of parks in the last five years. “Such forums thrive in parks. We don’t have any expectations from members. They are not charged any fee,” says B. Damadoran, founder of the Forum.
In the case of Otteri park, members of the Mooligai Poonga Walkers’ Association, led by G. Subramanian and Rajendran, have taken the lead in starting a chapter of the Forum at the park every Sunday at 7.30 p.m.
“Over 200 people walk in the park and we were looking for some activity that could help walkers bond,” says Subramanian, who works in the Income Tax department.
V. Rajagopalan, founder of Veta, an English training academy, began his career as a teacher of English by taking classes at the Independence Day Park near Valluvar Kottam.
Other activities
Until two years ago, S. Sampath, who runs Ambattur Sirippu Arangam, conducted humour yoga at Krishnapuram Park in Ambattur.
“Public spaces like parks serve as a platform for such activities,” says Sampath, who has identified eight parks in and around Ambattur where laughter yoga will be introduced.
