Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home in Chennai is the single largest beneficiary of late Tamil writer R. Chudamani's generosity. On Sunday, the Home received Rs 2.10 crore, mobilised through the sale of shares that were in her possession. Sri Ramakrishna Math Charitable Dispensary and Diagnostic Centre and Voluntary Health Services (VHS) also received Rs 2.10 crore each. This is the second instalment these institutions received from Chudamani's contribution. In the first instalment, they received Rs 1.5 crore each last year and the amount came from the sale of her house on Alagappa Road. The VHS had used the fund to construct a state-of-the-art operation theatre.
“We have received Rs 3.6 crore. In the 107 years of the Mission's Students' Home, this is the single largest contribution from any individual and institution. When we wanted to admit 250 more students in the polytechnic we faced an uncertain financial situation. Chudamani's contribution filled a major gap and the interest from the amount could meet the expenses of 150 students,” says Swami Satyajnanananda, secretary of the Home.
Chudamani, daughter of T.N.S. Raghavan, an ICS officer and former Chief Secretary of Madras Presidency, had left a will that all her possessions should go to charity.
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“Everything is being done in accordance with her wishes. Even at a time there was a slump in the market, the prices reached new heights on the day we sold the shares. Even the car used by her brought in an unprecedented high price,” explains K. Bharathi, executor of the estate of Chudamani.