On Sunday evening, number-crunching managing directors, national award winners, and Padma Shri awardees participated in an annual event organised by Sri Krishna Sweets not as achievers in their respective fields, but as children of their mothers. The annual ‘Salute to mothers’ programme, organised by Sri Krishna Sweets at Music Academy, brought under one roof mothers of 11 achievers in fields ranging from music to management.
E. Sarath Babu, Founder and CEO of Food King Catering, National Award-winning singer P. Unnikrishnan, Padma Shri awardee T.N. Manoharan, and scientific advisor to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, V. Ponraj, were among those who sat beside their mothers, shared anecdotes, and in a moment of epiphany realised how even on their toughest days, they hadn’t skipped a single meal because of their mothers.
“When I was in class III I noticed how my mother used to drink a lot of water. I did not give it much thought until I came to class VII. Only then, I understood that she drank water, because whatever little food was there, she distributed among her three children,” said Sarath Babu adding that his mother, whose first earning was Re. 1 a day, would sing songs and find solace in her job even while sweeping the floor in those days. Singer Unnikrishnan, noted how, if not for his mother, he might never have taken singing seriously. “When the music teacher came home, I would make some excuse or run away to play cricket. It was my mother who made sure I took music seriously.”
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In 28 years of her scientific career, this Sunday was N. Valarmathi, Project Director, RISAT-1, ISRO’s, first time on stage. The only woman among the achievers, she kept turning to look back at her mother when she spoke about how she was able to cope with the challenges of her job which required constant travelling and had no fixed hours only because of her support.
Padma Shri Awardee T.N. Manoharan recalled the time the news about his all-India rank in the C.A. exam had come in. “While all my family and friends congratulated me, my mother was relieved that her son could finally get a good night’s sleep,” he said.
Kalyanamalai V. Mohan, Chairman K.M. Matrimony; S. Raja, pattimandram speaker; P. Rajagopal and P. Suresh, partners, Sangeetha Group of Hotels; A.R.L. Sundaresan, senior advocate; A. Vaidheesh, vice-president, Asia-Pacific, Johnson and Johnson and A.S. Ramana Prasad, secretary and trustee, BVM Group of Institutions were the other achievers whose mothers were felicitated.
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M. Murali, managing director, Sri Krishna Sweets was among those present.