A gold medallist in library science, and an MA in literature and history.
Mr. Kalyana Sundaram, as people might know is a philanthropist, who prefers to work quietly. He had worked as a Librarian for 30 years. In his 30 year of service, he had donated his entire salary to help the needy. He had worked as a waiter in a hotel to meet his needs. His humility and down to earth character lead him to donate even his pension amount of about 10 Lac rupees to the needy.
This modesty has made him the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a social cause. In recognition to his service, UNO awarded him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century. An American organisation honoured him with the “Man of the Millennium” award. And as part of this award he received a sum of Rs 30 million which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.
Moved by his passion to help others, Super Star Rajinikanth adopted him as his father. Mr. Kalyana Sundaram still stays as a bachelor and had dedicated his entire life for serving the society. He runs a social welfare organisation, `Paalam’.
Highlights in Life:
- When he was at college, the Indo-China war broke out, and he contributed his gold chain tothe then Chief Minister, Kamaraj, for the war fund. At this time around, he went to meet Balasubramanian, Editor, Ananda Vikatan. “He sent me away, saying he would write about me the day I donated something I had earned myself. I did not speak a word to anyone about what I had done. I took it as a challenge,”
- Ever since he got a job as a librarian in Tuticorin, he has contributed all his salary, pension benefits and ancestral property to social welfare.
- When he received his pension arrears and contributed it to the Collector’s Fund, that the then Tiruneveli Collector felicitated him, despite his protests.
- The `Paalam’- Means Bridge [HIS SOCIAL ORGANIZATION] serves as a bridge between donors and beneficiaries: it collects money and materials from those willing to donate and distribute them among the weaker sections.
- It has also contributed to the cyclone relief funds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, and has helped the earthquake victims in Maharashtra and Gujarat.
His Future Goal:
1) He was popular among college and school students, and many of them have joined his organization.
2) He has long-term plans for his organization. One is the setting up of a nationalized digital library with modern equipment, which could be accessed by people from all walks of life.
3) He also wants to set up an international children’s university in Tamil Nadu, with foreign aid. However, he says, a mission has a meaning only when the right people are involved in it.
4) The Directorate of Public Libraries should recruit people with a library science background to be librarians, he says. “And good librarians should have a broad knowledge of everything.”
In Brief:
1) Mr.Kalayanasundaram Worked As A Librarian For 30 Years.
2) Every Month in His 30 Year Experience (service), He Donated his entire Salary to help the Needy.
3) He worked as a server in a hotel to meet his daily needs.
4) He donated even his Pension Amount of about Ten Lakh Rupees to the needy.
5) He is supposed to be the first person in the world to spend the entire earnings for a Social Cause. He received 30 crores as a part of his award “ Man of Millennium” recognized and awarded
Recognition/Awards:
A. The Union Government (of India) has acclaimed him as `The Best Librarian in India’.
B. He has also been chosen as `One of the Top Ten librarians of the World’.
C. The International Biographic Centre, Cambridge, has honored him as `One of the Noblest of the World’,
D. The United Nations Organization adjudged him as one of the Outstanding People of the 20th Century’.
E. An American organization has also selected him as the `Man of the Millennium.’ He received a sum of Rs 30 crores as part of this award which he distributed entirely for the needy as usual.
He still stays as a bachelor and dedicated his entire life for serving the poor.
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