SYMA Seva Award 2026 - the highly learned Dr. I Manavalan

 

In this beautiful world, there are beautiful people – and if your senses are open, perhaps one could sight one such person closer by ! .. .. Triplicane has some !!. .. . 

How many of us truly enjoyed learning? How many pursued higher education out of sheer love for knowledge rather than for marks or employment? For many students today, education becomes a race for examinations, rankings and careers. In that process, the joy of learning is often lost.

கற்றல் இனிமையானதா அல்லது சுமையா !! - மதிப்பெண்களுக்கு மட்டுமே முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்து, போட்டியிட்டு  படித்தால் கற்றலைச் சுமையாக்குகிறது. பெற்றோர்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பு மற்றும் சக மாணவர்களுடன் ஒப்பிடுதல் ஆகியவை தேவையற்ற மன அழுத்தத்தை உருவாக்குகின்றன.

 

The man of the post seen in this photo is not a common Man –  he  is a highly accomplished educationist with an impressive array of academic qualifications. 

His qualifications for sure would not fit in a board as they read :  MSc Zoology; MPhil Zoology, Med Education; MPhil Education; MA English, MSc Yoga, MSc Psychology; PhD Education.   Individually, these qualifications would demand well over fifteen years of higher education after school. To pursue them while simultaneously serving as a teacher speaks volumes about his extraordinary commitment to learning. Remarkably, he is only 45 !! 

To most of you, Srinivas Youngmens Association (SYMA) Triplicane would need no introduction.  SYMA has been rendering service to Society from 1977 and in a few days it is 50.  SYMA runs  a medical facility popularly ‘Rendu roova hospital’ since 1989 and a Tuition centre (SYMA Growth) providing quality educational assistance, free to students since 2008.   

July is a very important month for SYMA - our Educational Aid function, was today (11.7.2026)  at NKT National Girls High School.   Mr Sandeep Somani, Vice-President – Finance & Company Secrerary, Prodapt Solutions Pvt Ltd;  Mr M Balasubramaniam, Director – Mangal Tirth Estates Pvt Ltd & Sri Kidambi Sundararajan, Grand Master (Chess) were the Guests of honour.  

In the Educational Aid function, we provide uniforms to around 1200 school students, honour the school toppers of Triplicane, financial award to select College students and present SYMA Seva award.   As a Social Service Organisation, we deem it our duty to identify and honour those individuals who had rendered great service to the society.   

 

This year, the recipient of Syma Seva Award is Dr. I. Manavalan, Graduate Assistant in Govt Higher Secondary School, Thirupulivanam, Uthiramerur.   

He is a well-known personality who has consistently been at the forefront of selfless service by conducting tuition classes, mentoring and nurturing underprivileged students, donating blood, rendering various forms of social service, and extending a helping hand to those in need. His passion for education, reflected in his multiple academic degrees and doctorate in Education, his dedicated service as a teacher, and his untiring efforts in coaching students in his locality, is truly praiseworthy. He has also been one of the pillars of Sriraj Educational Trust, playing a vital role in carrying forward the lofty ideals of Mr. Sriraj and inspiring the younger generation. 

His discipline, methodical approach, organisational ability, and relentless pursuit of noble ideals are exemplary. SYMA considers him an outstanding role model and is proud to confer upon him the “SYMA Seva Award 2026” in recognition of his exceptional contributions towards the upliftment of the underprivileged through educational support, social service, and his enduring commitment to the welfare of society. 

He has been rendering social service, more specifically Educational service for couple of decades now.   He has been guiding and mentoring students for NMMSS -   The National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme  that  provides meritorious students from economically weaker sections with financial support.  He is conducting free tuitions for School toppers and other children.   He has been rightfully decorated as a member of the Tamil Nadu Text Book Society for Std 6-8 in Science, recognizing his efficiency in Science teaching.    

We pray to Lord Srinivasa to bestow on him and his family -  long life, good health, happiness, and continued vigour  enabling continuance of  his noble service to society for many more years to come.  Individuals like Dr. Manavalan are rare. They enrich society not merely through their scholarship but through the lives they transform. Such people deserve our highest admiration and respect. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmc8HOjCfyc

 

அறிவின் பரவசம் (Joy of Learning): ஒருவர் தாம் உயர் கல்வி படிப்பதனால்  அடையும் இன்பம், உலக மக்களுக்கும் சென்று சேருவதைக் கற்றவர்கள் காண்கிறார்கள். அந்த அறிவின் மூலம் மற்றவர்களின் அறியாமை அகல்வதைப் பார்ப்பது, அவர்களுக்கு மேலும் கற்க வேண்டும் என்ற பேராவலைத் தருகிறது.  நயம்பட  கற்றவர்கள் சுயநலவாதிகள் அல்லர்.  அவர்கள்  தாங்கள் பெற்ற அறிவு உலகத்தாரை நல்வழிப்படுத்துவதைக் கண்டு மகிழ்வர். அத்தகையோர்க்கு  பிறரின் அறியாமை நீங்குவது அவர்களுக்குப் பேரின்பம் தரும். இதோ செந்நாப்போதார் திருவள்ளுவரின் வாக்கு :

 

தாமின் புறுவது உலகின் புறக்கண்டு

காமுறுவர் கற்றறிந் தார். 

தாம் இன்புறுவதற்குக் காரணமான கல்வியால் உலகமும் இன்புறுவதைக் கண்டு, கற்றறிந்த அறிஞர் மேன்மேலும் (அக் கல்வியையே) விரும்புவர்.  இருண்ட அறையில் விளக்கேற்றும்போது இருள் விலகுவது போல, புதிய அறிவைப் பெறும்போது மனதில் உள்ள குழப்பங்களும் அறியாமையும் நீங்கி தெளிவு பிறக்கிறது. இந்தத் தெளிவு தரும் நிம்மதியே முதன்மையான பரவசம். 

It is perhaps fitting that a teacher devoted to spreading the light of knowledge serves in the historic village of Thirupulivanam, home to the ancient Sri Vyagrapureeswarar Temple where Sage Vyaghrapada worshipped Lord Shiva. May that sacred land continue to inspire his noble mission. 

Regards – S Sampathkumar
11.7.2026