I never thought that I will go to Mekkarai and started to think and work for the Mekkaraians. It was a pure destiny in the physical form of Mr. M.Ramachandran of Naethra Technolgy that took me there. I was convinced when he said in an early morning at 5 O'clock "எனக்கு கிடச்ச வாழ்க்கை, செல்வம் . அச்சன்கோவில் அய்யப்பனாலும், மேக்கரை கருப்பானாலும் கிடச்சதா நினைக்கிறேன். அதுல கொஞ்சம் பிறருடன் பங்கிட்டுக்கொள்ள நினைக்கிறேன். (I strongly believe that whatever I have is the blessings of Achankoil Ayyappan and Kottaivasal Karuppan and I have to share it with those who live in that area) If he would have said that he was moved by the poverty and backwardness of the village, I would not have been attracted either to him or to Mekkarai. What I found in him was a quest for selfactualization which sustains individual spirit. That attracted me towards Ramachandranji and Mekkarai.
I went to Mekkarai along with him and an another friend Srinivasan. For a man like me who comes from more or less a rainfed area, Mekkarai looked beautiful at the outset with its scenic beauty. We always presume that wherever beauty reigns it will automatically bring riches and prosperity. Is it not. Any passerby will think like that. In the begining I thought that we need to adopt a different strategy to work in Mekkarai. ஆனால் அடுத்த ஐந்தாறு மணிநேரத்தில் மேக்கரையில் நெடிதுயர்ந்த மரங்களின் நிழலில் வறுமை பல்லாண்டுகளாக சுகமாக அமர்ந்திருப்பதை காண முடிந்தது. I realized within a short time poverty is deep rooted as the roots of the trees standing there.
We decided to be with the villagers, to work with them. We returned from the village with a determination, a determination to share our destiny, knowledge, resources with Mekkarai people.
It was really a paradox, when we left the village, the village entered into us from the opposite side. It is an interesting story to share how not only we and other good friends of us also have been encircled by Mekkarai.
Posts
