Anyone who reads this title may get perplexed and ponder over this question WHAT ROLEX AWARDS HAS GOT TO DO WITH MY MOTHER? I would like to confuse again with another statement: "I have two mothers!" People who understand the history, literature, and ancient culture of Tamil could get my point. In our literature, it is narrated that the girls have two mothers, one is the biological mother, and another is the mother called Sevili Thaai (செவிலித் தாய்), who nurses or brings the child up. She narrates stories, teach moral values, feed nutritious food, and guide the child all along the life path. Now tell me about my second mother.
She gave me sweet & healthy natural drink, delicious fruits and snacks. It was from her that I got my toys to play. The cradle, walker, cot, bed, baskets, hat - everything she presented to me. It is none other than the glorious palmyra palm tree, which has its roots in the history, culture, and heritage of Tamils for more than 2500 years.
Palmyra palm tree, the wonder of nature, is fondly called Karpaga Virutcham (கற்பக விருட்சம்) of the world which means the tree which gives whatever the people ask for. The saddening fact now is that the mother is left in the lurch by her own children.
I have taken it as my commitment to save my mother, who brought me up teaching the philosophy of life. She takes care, not just the people, but serves a sanctuary to birds, preserves biodiversity, checks soil erosion, beautifies the seacoast. When I ventured into this task in the year 2005, only few people encouraged and motivated me. I should be grateful to Rev. Dr. Albert Muthumalai, Principal (2004-10), Loyola College, for his venerable guidance and Dr. K.S.Antonysamy, the then Dean of Students for all his valuable inputs. Only with their support, I was able to overcome all the hurdles in the stream of this project. My project coordinator, Samson Durai, and students helped me with innovative ideas in the implementation process. Nevertheless, in all these years, to be very frank, I was able to succeed only a few miles. When I saw the announcement of Rolex Awards 2012 in the website, I got a ray of hope that my dream of saving my mother will now become true.
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| My students in interaction with a woman from Palmyra Tappers community |
Yes, the hope has now become stronger. I am indeed proud to inform all my well-wishers that my pre-application for the Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2012 has been picked up and I was invited to submit the full proposal, which I did.
Established in 1976 to foster a spirit of individual enterprise around the world, the Rolex Awards recognise pioneering projects that demonstrate innovation and contribute to the betterment of mankind.
Mr. G.R. Gopinath Iyengar was the first gentleman from India who had obtained Rolex Award for Associate Laureate in 1996. I was inspired by his project to expand ecological silk-farming to improve living standard of farmers by adapting the original Japanese method only after reading it through Rolex Award. I was able to successfully adapt and replicate his project in some parts of Tamil Nadu during the years 2004-06.
This year alone, Rolex has received more than 3500 applications. I feel that it is a great honour for me that my pre-application has been selected for further consideration. With overwhelming joy of being given the chance to submit a detailed proposal to the Rolex Secretariat, I am dreaming all day and night with hope that Rolex Awards would save my mother!
