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Amma, the Light of my Life
26 sep 2009 Sri Radhakrishnan is, by profession, a carpenter. He reasons out that Amma’s generosity and selflessness have drawn him to Amma who is the light in his life. Amma had given him a new home where he lives presently, when his own home was completely destroyed by the Tsunami, some four years ago. He recalls Amma’s assistance to his family during those days. Amma had, very generously, thrown open her ashram gates to everyone in the locality, who needed help, without distinctions of religion or caste. He states that Amma is the author of a tremendous change in…
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Amma symbolizes of equality and peace
26 sep 2009 Mrs. Mercy is a resident of Alappad village, living very close to the brimming sea with her husband and two kids. She describes the 56th birthday celebrations of ‘her beloved Amma’ as a “Celebration of Divine Love”. She is highly excited about the sudden festive transformation that has come over the place in the last one week and is eager to contribute her might, however small, for the success of the event. She sees Amma as the “Bright Sun of the Day” showering Eternal Love over all mankind. In her opinion, the large crowds converging in on…
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Planned ahead, dressed alike
All the Vidyamritam beneficiaries are dressed alike today – white and grey striped shirts and grey pants for boys and skirts for girls. The clothes fit each of them perfectly and everyone seems happy with the new set of clothes that they have received. 67.5 lakhs, one full year of systematic hard work, a source of income for rural tailors in various districts –the free clothes distribution for the 10,000 odd Vidyamritam scholars has many facets to it that are hardly known to the recipients, the volunteers distributing the clothes or the casual observers who see the children walking around…
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Not knowing about Grace
Sumesh, a very cute and chubby boy from Veli in Trivandrum is a 7th grade student of the Vettukadu School and also a beneficiary of the Vidyamritham Scholarship Scheme. Back home at Trivandrum he lives with his mother, grand mother, younger brother and elder brother. His dad is no more and the whole responsibility to manage the household and educate the kids is on his mother. His mother is a daily wage laborer. Sumesh has an ambition to be a school Principal. He likes teaching others and this, he says, is why he wants to be a principal.” I like…
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Doing their bit for Amma
Volunteers are busy at the kitchen in Amritapuri cooking food for tens of thousands of devotees that is going to be here on 26th and 27th of this month in relation to the Vidyamritham and Amma’s birthday celebrations. While chopping away busily for the next meal, they talked about what brought them here and their experiences with Amma. Prabodh San Giorgio is a volunteer who have been in the ashram for many years now. He is from Italy and his devotion towards Amma is what brought him here. He says he has see Amma work hard day and night for…
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Medical aid post
26 Sep 2007 The Medical Aid Post at the ASE grounds has been rendering 24-hour medical services with help from the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences for the past three days. The medical aid is equipped to deal with all types of illnesses ranging from a simple fever to more serious cases of broken bones and heart attacks. “We also have a fully operational ICU ambulance to deal with extremely sensitive cases.”, explained Dr Ravi, the Emergency Physician. Interns from Aims work shift hours with each shift containing 3-4 interns who are guided by a practicing doctor or that shift’s…
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A fashionable dream
Coming from a rural village in Wayanad, Prajith, 17, wants to be Fashion Designer. Staying with his mom, he is doing his 12th grade studies in the Vocational High School at Mananthavadi, Wayanad. His dad doesn’t stay with them. He is one of many teenagers in Kerala who dream big but never find the information or opportunity to realize their dreams. He used to attend the Amrita Vidyalayam gatherings conducted every Sunday in his village for bhajans and preaching from Swamis. He learnt about the Vidyamritham scholarship programme from there, applied for it and was selected. Prajith might have ended…
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Dreaming “BIG” in life
I had once heard someone say that the dreams and aspirations of small children are as endearing and energetic as the waves that shatter against the rocks on the sea shore. Thirteen year old Unni from a fishing colony of Kodungallur dreams big in life. . He equally enjoys playing soccer with his group of friends at sunset on the sea shore and studying the anatomy of human body in Biology. A seventh standard student of Kodungallur vocational higher secondary school, Unni’s deepest passion is but to fight for his country by becoming a soldier. Unni has come to Amritapuri…
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Vidyamirtam has come as a breather
Maalu R. Das, aspires to become a famous astronaut. T he 8th standard student has learnt much about Kalpana Chawla and her success only with the hope that someday she would reach her heights. Sadly, her reality is a far cry from the high hopes that she entertains. She comes from a rural village in Vandalam, Allepey where her father earns a living by fishing while her mother works at the fisheries. Maalu has big responsibilities on her shoulders already owing to her mother’s ill health. Due to partial deafness caused by a thyroid condition, her mother has been unable…
