My thoughts on felicitation programme and my Interview with Doakian, olympian Revathi Veermani.
All the pleasant memories of the sports day flooded my mind as I watched the Felicitation ceremony at our Lady Doak college in honour of our fellow Doakian Revathi Veeramani.
I had this blessed opportunity to stay at Pandita Ramabai hostel for three years and so was able to observe the sports girls closely. They were staying in the nearby Amy Carmichael Hostel which was just behind Pandita Ramabai Hostel.
The sports girls were extraordinary in their dedication to practice for their events. While the other hostel students were taking rest, these diligent honey bees were always busy sharpening their skill set for their sport. They had this early morning training which from my perspective was hard to imagine how these girls trained, disciplined their body, endured pain and became strong, achieving more whilst doing so.
No matter what pain they go through they will be present for the training without fail. All their hard work resulted in great appreciation on the college Sports Day. We fellow Doakian students would be amazed at their excellence in University level competition and National level competition. The pyramid show and the army mime by the sports students have always been my favourite. I used to get thrilled at what these women were capable of with their training.
I remember we all getting trained under Captain. Dr. Shanthameena for aerobics. She trained us, danced with us and taught us so many group formations. (Later, I was so fortunate to meet her by chance on one of my trips in an OLA ride in Chennai.) One such formation is the "Olympic Rings". We were given Helium filled balloons in the five colours of the Olympic rings which was used in the formation. We could not resist shouting out loud when we saw our fellow Doakians forming the alphabets L D C, the three letters which united all of us as sisters under one campus.
Never did we know that we were foreshadowing the near future with our symbolic representation of the Olympic Rings. Never did we know that the hands that trained us will also train an Olympian.
Never did we know that from among our hardworking Doakian sports girls will rise a star will be get the whole nation's attention and hope.
We are Proud of you dear Revathy. You have set an example for every young girl in India.
I was totally caught up with the words of Dr. Christiana Singh on the live programme on Aug 12, 2021 (my choir director under whose tutelage I sang in the college choir for three years). She was the Professor who always aimed at perfection. Her speech came from her heart. Our dear principal mam referred a book called Romans from the Bible to appreciate the hard work of our dear girl. She called Revathy - a star. She referred the history of the college and told that in the long history of 73 years, Revathy has set a great record.
Dr. Kavitha Rani, in her speech, said, "Had our beloved Katie Wilcox been alive, she would have hugged Revathy with a proud heart." These words moved me to tears. Indeed our Revathy has earned glory for everybody and everything that LDC College represents.
I was so impressed with the speech of the highly educated, people oriented leader, Dr. P.T.R. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, the honourable finance minister of Tamil Nadu. He insisted the need for our nation to set a Goal in developing the required infrastructure for the development of sporting talent. He stressed the importance of investment and incentivising sports in our nation.
Dr. P.T.R is the grandson of the former chief minister of Madras Presidency. So, in his speech he said that people from a good background, who have a head start in life, when they achieve things, it is not that impressive. He declared that people like Revathy, for who ostensibly the odds were stacked against in life, were the real path-breakers. From her humble beginnings, she has shown an extraordinary growth which is miraculous.
The coach of our dear sister Revathy was truly a magnanimous man. A most dedicated coach that I have ever witnessed. The college have him a huge sum of money to appreciate him, but he immediately gave it to Revathy herself. A down to earth man with a great vision is how I would like to describe this great man.
My humble opinion is that, teachers like him shape the better future for India. He gave a very small beginning to the girl. He bought her a shoe, appreciated her abilities, strengthened her, sought help from people for her, stood with her to make her an excellent version of herself. He sent her to the Olympics Games!!!
Revathy would not be where she is today, had it not been for the sacrificial life of her grandmother. The woman who brought Revathy and her sister up. The grandmother was crucial to Revathy as she gave the complete freedom to go after a career in sports. The sporting career paved a way for Revathy to secure a job in the Indian Railways as a TTE (Train Ticket Examiner). This is a direct comparison with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, M.S.D, who was also pursuing a career in cricket while working in the Indian Railways.
Her grandmother showed much gratitude in her speech to the professors, by addressing them as Revathy's mothers. From my heart, I could say, as a Doakian, we are all privileged to have such professors who have the heart of gold, the heart of a mother in them. I am ever grateful and indebted to them for the love and care they have shown towards me.
As Dr. Christiana Singh said, the whole progamme is an encouragement not only for our star Doakian Olympian Revathy. But, for each and every one of us, who studied, are studying and will study at the prestigious Lady Doak College in the coming days. It is a symbol of what every Doakian is capable of achieving in life. Achieving greatness is possible for all.
As women, many of us are losing our goal because of the various burdens and responsibilities which life has vested on us. We are the same women who got our values and education under the people who created an Olympian and made history. We are meant, equipped to create one too. Cheer up my fellow Doakians, take little steps a day, be consistent, have discipline, have faith, have vision for greatness. We will be soon creating one.
The article which I published when I was studying in our college magazine was called as "Natchathira Kalloori". I wrote it in Tamil. I called the college, "a star". Just like how a star showed way to the wisemen when our Lord Jesus was born. We are called to show the way, lead the way. We are the chosen ones of God to bless others, bless the nation with what we have got from our star college, from our beloved, LDC.
The Interview with Olympian Revathy.
After seeing this felicitation programme, I had this earnest desire to meet this star woman of our LDC. When I share my thoughts with my dear friend Sheeba who is now working as an assistant professor in English Department, she revealed the fact that this incredible young woman was her student in the English subject. With her help, we shared all the questions with Revathy Veeramani. Revathy answered our questions.
I have learned many lessons from her interview. I was surprised when she said she has no role model but she competes with herself. I felt her reply was excellent that she tries to be the best version of herself everyday. She also said whenever she gets tired, the only thing she used to ask herself is, "What am I going to do in life if I leave sport?". As she has spent so much of her time and energy in improving herself in sports, she made sure not to quit amidst any pain or challenges. I have attached my Interview with her here. Do listen and get motivated.
Therefore my fellow Doakians, keep these words in your mind.
Arise, Shine forth, for thy light hath come. (The Holy Bible).
Now is the time to shine.
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