When we invited readers to tell us what makes them interesting, the response was overwhelming. It looks like the city is brimming with people with a plethora of interests. Here’s Rotarian T. Sampathkumar on his mission to save the girl child …
I am a first generation graduate in engineering who got married in my final year. Having got a first rank in SSLC, I joined St.Joseph College, Trichy for my intermediate. There, my classmates and roommates happened to be Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr. Alex Alexander now in USA. I continue to be in touch with them. The desire to help children came about in my school days. I remember my father who helped a young girl who had lost her father to join a teacher’s training course. She went on to become a teacher. That is how I started a trust called, ‘Save Our Daughters India’.
One of the proudest moments of my life was when Dr. Abdul Kalam came home for dinner.
I worked for 32 odd years and then I decided to help economically deprived girls get an education and a job.
My wife Saroja, though a school drop out, ensured our three daughters and a son became post-graduates. Saroja was also responsible for sowing the seed of the Save Our Daughters India trust. The trust has so far helped more than 300 girls and a few boys to study and improve their lives. My interest in life is to expand this mission for educating poor girls, across Tamil Nadu and beyond.
We will feature the best of the entries in The Hindu MetroPlus. If you haven’t sent in your entry, what are you waiting for? Just shoot off a mail to metroplus.cbe@gmail.com with a note about yourself and a photograph.
