spectacles distributed at SYMA - remembering KE Raghavan

Today is Thursday – 25^th August 2022. 

James Anderson claimed figures of 3 for 32 in his 100th home Test, while Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes added five wickets between them, as England seized the early initiative in the second Test at Manchester.   Tennis ace  Novak Djokovic has pulled out of US Open reportedly for  lack of Covid vaccination. 

On this day in 1258, George Mouzalon, the regent of the Empire of Nicaea, was assassinated as part of a conspiracy led by nobles under the future emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos.  On this day in 1609 - Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei demonstrated his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers. 

SYMA remembers this day for different reasons !!  Srinivas Youngmens Association (SYMA) has been doing service relentlessly since 1977.  Of our many services, Medical services and Education services are our prime activities. We have come a long way since 1989 when our medical services were launched in a small street corner at Peyalwar Street ~ many our volunteers have striven so hard ensuring that pleasant and quality service is extended to poor and needy.  

Of the many people involved – we recall and remember the passionate services of dear KE Raghavan born on 12.10.1953.  15 years have passed by  since that sad day [fateful Saturday 25.8.2007] the person liked by us all “Kunnavakkam Elayavalli Raghavan”  [Alamu Stores] passed away – his sudden death shocked Triplicane and hundreds turned up at his funeral.  He would ever be remembered for his nice words, smiling face, hard work done always at the background without ever showing up on stage.  

On a day when His Holiness  Sri Sankaracharya was to visit our medical centre in its nascent stage, he took upon himself, the task of whitewashing the entire premises and the day beckoned with the place so neat and clean.  He was exceptionally good in cooking and the sambar that he used to make still lingers.  In SYMA tours, besides other manual work, cooking and serving was his area and he made everyone feel happy with that. 

Every year we remember him on 25th of August – this year on Nation’s Independence day in our Eye camp conducted alongwith Sri Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal – 120 people were screened ~ 13 persons were identified, were taken to Sri Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal.  Cataract surgery was done free for them, later,  they were brought back to Triplicane. 22  persons were prescribed spectacles.  The eye-glasses were made by Sri Sankara Eye Hospital, Pammal and they were distributed in a function held at SYMA Medical Centre today @ 6.30 pm.

Today SYMA remembers Mr KE Raghavan, who left us this day in 2007.  The edifice of SYMA has been built brick by brick by the efforts of some and late KE Raghavan played a great part in maintaining the Centre those days. His brother Mr KE Srinivasan, Prop. Alamu Stores, distributed the glasses alongwith Mr TJ Ramani, SRP, Durai @ Seshadri, KV Rangarajan, Vasu Ramesh and others.   Here are some photos taken on the occasion. 

 
With regards – S. Sampathkumar
25.8.2022.