The huge poster of yesteryears blockbuster Sivagamiyin Selvan greeted everyone entering the PTR Hall. Alongside actor Sivaji Ganesan, the poster had the portrait of Flight Lieutenant Praveen standing tall in front of a chopper. The visuals said it all. The sacrifice of young Praveen who laid down his life in a chopper crash during the rescue mission of stranded pilgrims in flood ravaged Uttarakhand three years ago is similar to the hero of the movie. The uniform he wore, the certificates and medals he won and the objects he used from his childhood all perpetuated the memories of the pilot.
On the other side of the hall, recorded television news bulletins on the Uttarakhand floods and the award ceremony where Praveen’s mother received the peacetime gallantry award Shaurya Chakra from President Pranab Mukherjee were being screened. “He was a bright student and emerged a topper in every activity. He did what he was more used to when the call of duty came to save the stranded pilgrims,” C. Manjula, mother of Praveen recalled.
Kamalatmanandaji Maharaj, president, Ramakrishna Math, remembered how Praveen used to volunteer himself for social service and his penchant for reading Swami Vivekananda’s books. By laying down his life to save people, he has become an example worthy for people to emulate.
The Master of Ceremony narrated how Praveen was very keen to perform in dramas. Once he donned the role of Bhagat Singh in the school drama and performed creditably. “At that time no body knew his life would be short lived like Bhagat Singh’s. He bagged the best outgoing student medal and the best NCC cadet at the Thiagarajar College of Engineering,” said R. Muruganandam, assistant professor, Thiagarajar College of Engineering.
The family of Praveen chose the occasion to honour the Thiagarajar College of Engineering professors who honed the skills of Praveen.
Toppers of 10th and 12th Standard board examinations from the districts of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar apart from Madurai Corporation Schools and TVS Matriculation Higher Secondary School were also honoured with a silver lamp and Rs.1500 cash award, respectively.
