Inspirational Story:
Most of us would crib about shelling out a few hundred rupees for charity. But how about donating the entire's life's earning for the well-being of others? Our inspiration for this month is a person who has given a new meaning to the word charity. Please read the full article to know about Mr Palam Kalyanasundaram. You will be surprised to know that such is this person's level of service, humility and simplicity that even the megastar Rajnikanth has adopted him as his father.
Early life:
No words can describe the beauty of this man’s kindness.
Palam was born in Melakarivelamkulam, Tamil Nadu. Born to a humble family, Palam lost his father when he was just a year old. It was a small village with just 30 houses then with no roads, no buses, no school, no electricity and not even a petty shop. Palam studied in the light of a kerosene lamp or by candlelight till he was about ten years old. After completing school, he was determined to pursue a B.A degree with Tamil as the main subject. As he was the only student for the course at St. Xavier's College, Tirunelveli, the college management persuaded him to take up another subject, but he refused. Impressed by the youngster's determination to study Tamil, the founder of a renowned college admitted him to the course he wanted with full sponsorship by him. Later Palam went on to pursue library science at the Madras University at a time when the Indo-China war was on.
A turning point came when he came he heard the PM Nehru on the radio requesting people to contribute to the defence fund. Something struck Palam then. He immediately went to the Chief Minister and gave him his gold chain – the first student to do such a thing. The Chief Minister later felicitated him at a special function for this contribution. This was just a small beginning though.
Palam is a gold medalist in library science and also holds a masters degree in literature and history. After completion of studies, he joined an Arts College as a librarian. During his 35 years of service, Palam diligently and willingly donated his salary month after month towards charity and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs. His primary focus during this period was the welfare of underprivileged children by helping them get shelter, food and education. He also made regular donations to several orphanages.
Such was his motivation for the well-being of others that Palam decided not to marry so that he could dedicate all his resources and money to help others rather than spend money on family. Even after retirement, Palam donated all his pension money and worked as a waiter in a hotel in exchange for two meals a day and a meagre salary so that he could continue to donate to orphanages and children’s educational funds. Not only has Palam donated all his life's earnings, but he has also donated everything he owned, including his ancestral properties and all the money he received from awards. We all work because we want a comfortable lifestyle and dream of settling down with the luxuries of life. This man was different, he worked hard just so that he could earn more money to donate.
In 1998, after retirement, Palam decided to expand his service and, thus, Paalam was born. He used all his retirement funds towards this initiative. Paalam serves as the link between donors and beneficiaries. Assistance is not only monetary but also through caring for others. Children are helped in pursuing education, medical attention is provided to the needy, blood donation camps are organised and blood samples are reached to hospitals during emergencies, the unemployed, elderly, sick and handicapped are rehabilitated, and free counselling is provided. Paalam has also taken an active part in relief work during cyclones and earthquakes that have struck various parts of India. People trust Paalam because of Palam and what he stands for. "I have slept on pavements and railway platforms to find out what it is like to be poor, without a roof over your head," he says.
Palam, is an epitome of selfless service, a fine example of simple living and high thinking. He prefers to stay low and practices Gandhian principles without bothering whether the world takes notice of them or not. Even today, he approaches people and appeals for funds to help suffering children in his soft voice, they realise that he is not just another fund-raiser.
“Everything is a state of mind”
Palam says money does not impress him at all. “One can get money in three possible ways. First, through earnings; secondly, through parents’ earnings, and thirdly, through money donated by someone. But there’s nothing more fulfilling than being able to donate money for charity out of your own earnings.”
Palam never wanted anything for himself and was always able to manage doing odd jobs. He simply does not wish to own anything. One of his happiest moments was when, after being chosen as the `Man of the Millennium' by an American organisation, he donated the entire amount of Rs.30 crores he received towards charity. Everything is, therefore, a state of mind. Finally, what do we take with us when we leave planet earth?"
Recognitions:
Palam has been amply rewarded for his service to humanity. The Union government acclaimed him as the best librarian in India. The International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, has honoured him as one of the ‘noblest of the world’ and the United Nations adjudged him as one of the most outstanding people of the 20th century. He also received Man of the Millenium award by an American organisation and Life Time of Service Award from Rotary Club of India in 2011.
Palam strongly believes in words, “Don’t bother about how you speak. Strive to make others speak good about you.” He also believes that “we cannot sustain ourselves, unless we contribute to the society in some way or the other. I strongly feel if even one person does his bit towards social good, there will be some change.”
With so much of social service, selfless charity, noble international awards, but yet very less popularity, Kalyanasundaram is indeed an unsung Man of the Millennium.
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