The TISA-Chennai chapter was formally inaugurated on 24th Jan 2009. 50 pws
attended and the total strength of the hall is more than 60. A very good
response and no one had expected this much. I take this opportunity to thank all the members of this group who have supported us constantly, I also thank all the members of the Chennai chapter especially to Sivasubramanian, Hassanand and Vishal as without their support, this meeting would not have succeed at all. I also thank Mr.Balasubramaniam (my guru) who came from Coimbatore on my personal request. Last but not the least, my thanks to Dr.Sachin who handled the gathering well with his prompt and spontaneous replies.
Here I would like to share about how to get our news published in the news papers / media so that others may also benefit from our ex[experience. Till 18th Jan, the Chennai chapter was having 10 members only. Also, there was no guarantee that all the members will attend the 24th Jan meet. There was every possibility of the general (non-stammering) audience strength becoming more than the strength of pws!!
On 19 th morning myself (Mani) and Sivasubramanian decided to go to press offices in person. We went to 2 Tamil daily, 2 English daily and 1 Tamil Weekly. I mentioned about my official position & our intentions for the meet. On 20th Jan, 2 Tamil daily & 1 English daily, and on 21st Jan, 1 English daily published our news – but without any contact details at all :-((
Only one Tamil daily (Dinathanthi) published my mobile number with the
meeting venue, date and time. Everything then changed overnight. I received
close to 50 calls.There would have been no space in the hall if all these callers had actually turned up!
This Tamil daily is more than 75 years old and it is mostly read by lower socio-economic strata.The majority pws attending the meeting are either from middle or lower middle income groups. I could not express my feelings in words about their faith in us. In every conversation, they would say “we will follow in future whatever you people tell us- as you only have bothered to call us; and the way
you conducted the proceedings of the meeting, giving us full chance to share our feelings, concerns and problems- we have full faith in your group”.
Now we have got about 20 students(pws) name with us. We are planning to
conduct a summer camp (After examinations) for them.Suggestions are welcome.
A post script:
Please read the following conversation on 25th(9AM) between myself and S (a pws) to under stand the impact of the above meeting on PWS.
“Sir, after attending yesterday’s meeting, I am now able to speak better over
phone & hopefully get out of this problem sooner”“OK S–, fine. But you are going to land in another problem”
“What Sir? !”
“You may have to pay more phone bill !”
“That’s not a problem for me, sir. After speaking well, I will earn more !”
Bye now from Chennai
Regards,
V. Manimaran
Mobile: 098842 89989
Post-Post-script: This is sachin- Yes, I too thank aaalllll of you- especially Shivasubramanian for excellent translations on the go- without which I owuld have been so helpless… Hassanand, Vishal and Mani above all, for organising everything so well. Also for giving me a chance to meet his Guru (Mr Bala)- The service he has done to a large number of young PWS much before TISA came into existence, will remain an inspiration for all of us.. May God bless all of you!
