They were overjoyed to meet a star from tinsel town. Some 590 children from 18 homes got a chance to interact with actor Shiva, who was a special guest at the Mazhalai Oli, a programme organised by the Inner Wheel District 323 on the eve of Deepavali. Children had come from as far as Vellore to partake in the celebrations at Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women, R.A. Puram.
A ‘Music Show’ by Senthil kept the audience entertained for about two hours. “It gives the members immense satisfaction to see the radiant faces of these children,” said Nallammai Ramanathan, convenor of the programme. Each home received a package of crackers to take back and gift hampers were distributed to the children by actor Shiva.
“The members of the Inner Wheel Clubs are the wives of the Rotarians. It is an international organisation working for the marginalised. Friendship and Service is the motto of Inner Wheels Clubs and there are about 33 clubs in Chennai,” said Priya Narayanan, treasurer of Inner Wheel Club of Nanganallur. Speaking on the occasion, District Chairman of Inner Wheel Club, Mallika Venkataramani, urged the children to excel in their studies. She assured of more such programmes for the upliftment of underprivileged children. The Club members have been celebrating Deepavali with the differently-abled and underprivileged children for the past 12 years. “We take pleasure in providing them high-tea, new clothes and entertain them with mimicry, magic show, dance and variety music,” she said.
Kala Rajasekhar, district treasurer, said: “The celebration brings smile and joy to the deprived children. We are thankful to all the members of our District Clubs for contributing towards this celebration.”
Jayalakshmi Suryanarayanan, secretary of Inner Wheel Club of Nanganallur, said the participating children went back with a bag of goodies and promised to come back next year again.
