26 sep 2009

I had an opportunity to interact with four of our staff from Ettimadai Campus. Sri Balashanmugam (Office Assistant, Accounts Department,         Amrita School of Engineering), Sri Senthil kumar (Admistrative Assistant, ASB ),     Sri Loganathan (Senior Assistant, Student Welfare) and Mr. Dharmalingam (Hostel Incharge)

These devotees of Amma had rendered voluntary service to the victims of the deadly tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004.  They were in charge of a section of the Nagapattnam Relief Camp in Tamil Nadu.  Here is what they had to share with all of us.
It was highly depressing to see the untold suffering of the victims of tsunami who had lost everything including their kith and kin.  We very strongly felt that it was our duty as human beings to contribute something to the victims of the natural calamity for whom ‘there was none to help and very few to love’.

To be a volunteer with the Mata Amritanandamayi Math was a satisfaction in itself.  It was at the Nagapattinam Camp that we were to be at service.  Serving food for to these less fortunate cousins of ours was a moving experience.  As a contribution, though a small drop in the ocean, it was indeed a gratifying one.  It gave us immense self-satisfaction.

Today, we are extremely happy to be a part of the birthday celebrations of our beloved Amma.  The opportunity to render service at a gathering of a lakh of people is no small task but it is  indeed soul-filling.  We are working in the kitchen along with many others of our team.  Our contribution is making ‘sambar’ for the assembled devotees.  We are confident that, by the Divine Grace of Amma, the functions would all be grand and that everyone gathered here will receive the Grace of Amma.

interviewed by  S Jeayaram