Cover Story : In the Service of Samskrita

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Aug 21, 2017, 12:06 pm IST

N. Sundaresan, Samskrita Bharati

Samskrita Bharati and Man. Suriji are synonymous particularly in Tamil Nadu. He has been the national president of Samskrit Bharati since its foundation and almost up to 2010. Very often, during deliberations, he used to fondly recall that among the branch-organisations Samskrita Bharati has been strenuously living up to his estimate because of the ‘lakshyam’ for which Samskrita Bharati was formed. Especially in the context of Tamil Nadu the organisational efforts for spreading Samskrit have been tremendous. Towards this achievement, the guidance of Suriji was a factor to count with.
He has been associating in many events organised by the Samskrita Bharati and for this he used to travel extensively, mindless of his health, at certain times. In September 2015, when we organised Samskrit Sammelan at the Meenakshi College in Chennai, he enthusiastically came on wheel chair to attend the concluding session. He appreciated the theme of the Sammelan “Samskritham for Samanya” and was kind enough to enquire whether we could raise adequate funds for organising the Sammelan. On many occasions, he used to express his concern for our fund raising efforts. For several years, we have been functioning from ‘Sakthi’ Karyalaya and our registered address even today is ‘Sakthi’ only.
He used to ruminate over providing an office space for Samskrita Bharati and when it came to putting up ‘Sewa’ building, he readily offered us to take up a floor and as president of Samskrita Bharati, he also gave an introductory letter on our letter head to Sri Ramasubramanya Raja, and advised us to approach him for assistance.
At every stage of the building construction he was the guiding factor and rightfully, bubbling with enthusiasm he graced the gruhapravesam in “Sewa” and inaugurated the office on June 9, 2016. He blessed us that we have at last got our permanent shelter to serve the cause of Samskrit. Like this, Suriji has been leading us in the journey of Samskrit in the Prant, holding our hand all through. n

Meticulous way of Shaping

Though I met Suriji at various Sangh programmes, it was my first meeting with him when I went to invite him for my marriage. He listened to me and noted my contact details. Just before marriage, he sent a letter greeting me. On my wedding day also, he personally called in the evening; inquired about the marriage and blessed me over the phone.
In Sangh work, I was instructed to accompany Suriji to the Sangh Shiksha Varg at Sriperambadur from Sakthi Karyalaya. As instructed, I finished my night duty at office, went to Karyalaya to accompany Suruji in car. As I was waiting for him, he came little late. While travelling in car, he said, “I go to bathroom for nature’s call after eating. If I had gone out to the car immediately after eating, it would have disturbed you on the way and then started enquiring about me. His meticulous way of shaping us was remarkable. — Murali, Arakonam

Oh! You were that young boy

The Prathmik Sangh Shiksha Varga was conducted at Kamarajar Higher Secondary School in Nalumavadi Village near Thiruchendur from December 25 to 31 in 1984. There was discussion on a topic and it was decided to think on other topics to be presented in next day’s discussion. That day after Suriji’s discourse we were asked to raise questions. I rose up and raised the question given to me in the discussion held earlier. Everyone wondered and starred at me. Suriji asked, “Whether you are asking it by yourself or at the instance of some elder?’’ I replied that it was a question posed to me by Gat Pramukh. Suriji replied with a smile that the Gat Pramukh himself will explain by tomorrow. This was my first acquaintance with Suriji. After 1993 explosion in Karyalaya, some full time workers were required for a shorter span. At a meeting of Pracharaks I shared my first experience with Suriji and he recollected and asked, “Oh! You were that young boy. Good”. — Velladurai