R. Bharadhwaj is a concert singer, and there is a different timbre to his music when he entertains a particular group. His signing hits the notes of empathy whenever he sings for patients at the Adyar Cancer Institute. A student of psychology, Mridula Sridhara also sings for these patients and the exercise has revealed to her the balm that music can be for the human mind, especially one that is creased with worry and uncertainty.
Bharadhwaj and Mridula are among 100 volunteers who set aside their time for The Ashwin Maharaj Foundation, which organises music sessions at cancer wards of hospitals.
The Foundation was established in December 2015 in memory of Ashwin Maharaj Ramasubramanian by his parents R. Manonmani and D. Ramasubramanian, who are residents of T. Nagar. Ashwin lost the battle against myeloid leukaemia in October 2015. At that time, he was a fourth-year student of Jindal Global Law University, Sonipat.
It was Ashwin’s wish that music be used to alleviate the distress faced by cancer patients, especially those from the lower rungs of society, and his parents are fulfilling it.
“Age-appropriate songs are sung. Generally, we sing melodious songs from films and poems of Subramania Bharati and rhymes for children. We encourage patients to sing along with us. During the music performance, the patients clap their hands enthusiastically and their mind is taken temporarily off their worries,” says Bharadhwaj, an IT professional who lives in Ullagaram.
Ashwin’s parents have experienced the healing power of music when their son was undergoing treatment for cancer in San Diego. “He used to feel better and get sound sleep,” says Ashwin’s mother Manonmani.
Besides Ashwin’s friends, the Foundation is supported by music societies of SSN College of Engineering, Ethiraj College for Women, Stella Maris College, Women's Christian College and Anna University.
“In the last two years, we have seen many patients who have demonstrated the role of music in taking care of the emotional needs of the patients. It helps in alleviating pain and reducing nausea,” says Ramasubramanian, an anaesthetist.
Ashwin, an alumnus of PSBB School on Thirumalai Road, also created awareness about stem cell donation and he wanted to feed the poor. With the support of philanthropists, his parents are distributing porridge powder to cancer patients at government hospitals.
Ashwin’s mother R. Manonmani says, “He was instrumental in a Public Interest Litigation being filed on behalf of 350 underprivileged students, in Mumbai, who were about to lose their education due to lack of scholarship. Ashwin left no stone unturned in seeking justice for those children and ensured that they were admitted back into school.”
At Chennai, the music sessions are conducted at Adyar Cancer Institute, Canal Bank Road in Gandhi Nagar and at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Park Town.
Those interested to support the cause of The Ashwin Maharaj Foundation may contact R. Manonmani at 98418 25935. The Facebook page of the Foundation is www.facebook.com /ashwinmaharajfoundation/
