From the many young achievers at SDF, we have traced the journeys of 23 students.
From the many young achievers at SDF, we have traced the journeys of 23 students. Picked at random, these are inspiring stories of bright students who have risen to achieve great success. SDF continues to support many more such students.
I laud the effort put in by the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation. Children of our martyrs deserve love and respect of the nation. They are our future and their education is of paramount importance. The Ministry of Home Affairs is extremely pleased to partner with the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation for the Vidya Rakshak program.
“SDF, creating a rare vital breed of Responsible, Committed & Sincere future citizens! Thanks to its product - Vidyadhan “
Susmitha was brought up in Thaneermukkom, a small village in Alappuzha. Her father is a driver and her mother, a trailor. Susmitha harboured a strong inclination towards being a nurse, right from her childhood.
An intelligent student, she secured first in the SSLC exam and got admitted into the SDF scholarship program. She studied B.Sc Nursing at K.V.M College of Nursing in Cherthala and passed with First Class. "I also took part in all the self-help programs Conducted by SDF. It provided me better guidelines for not only my academic life but also for my personal life. The scholarship gave my family and a lot of hope. It gave me directive to set my goals," she says.
Susmitha could not contain her excitement when her childhood dream of becomming a nurse materialized. She now works as a Staff Nurse in an 1800-bedded NABH accredited hospital in Kochi. Susmitha has worked on a myriad of social projects including anti-tobbaco day awareness programs, exhibitions on monsoon disease and research on prevention of home accidenets among toddlers.
Her educational background has jolted her to pursue future goals with vigour. Through her professional expertise, Susmitha hopes to help many people and later complete he higher studies in Nursing.
Nagendra was born to a family near the backwaters of Alappuzha. His father , then a cook at a nearby temple, left the family when Nagendra was a small child. “ My mother looked after my brother , my grandparents and me. She used to make a living by selling a sweet dish called “poornaboli” in the local bakery.”
Unfortunately , Nagendra’s mother developed an eye problem and gradually turned blind. A helpless young boy, Nagendra sought help from his neighbours and learnt how to cook. He also rented out a small portion of his house for Rupees 200. Right from expensive medicines and household items, Nagendra single-handedly supported his grandparents , mother and brother with that money. “ When I was in 10th standard, my teachers suggested my name for the SDF. With the help of SDF , I completed my PG in Commerce and Am now working as Manager – Accounts & MIS at Innovations Investment Management India Pvt. Ltd.”
Nagendra believes that his great archievement was getting the opportunity to work for the organization built by Mr. Shibulal and extending his bit towards SDF. “ I have been associated with SDF ever since I was a child, Apart from providing me with education, SDF has truly shaped my personality and made me a better person.”
Binoy always knew that he wanted to pursue the field of medicine. His father was a porter at a railway station and the family has little to live with. A bright student fond of reading books and playing football, Binoy completed his MBBS course successfully under a government merit quota.
With the help of SDF scholarship, a porter’s son was able to pursue his life’s ambition. He is presently working as an Assistant Insurance Medical Officer at ESI Hospital, Alappuzha. He is also part of the medical team at Mehac Foundation , a palliative care unit for psychiatric patients.
Binoy was uncertain if he would even be able to pursue his schooling with ease and he is now on his way to becoming a successful orthpedic doctor. “ My greatest achievement in life is my MBBS degree. I want to become one of the best orthopaedic surgeons. SDF is helping a lot of students with their studies, especially those from lower class families like me. It is very gratifying.”
Jibin was born and raised in Punnamada, a small town in Alappuzha. His father was a salesman at a medical store and his mother, a house wife. After completing XII standard. Jibin pursued a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Carmel Polytechnic College, Punnapara. He passed out with a 90% aggregate and acquired the third rank in Kerala state.
With a strong penchant for innovative design engineering , Jibin worked on a unique project in college. Along with a group, Jibin developed a refrigerator, ie the oven. They are still using it in the college,” he says excitedly. Jibin continues to work on a lot of new projects that include the design and development of control valves.” Endlessly hungry for ambition, Jibin has completed courses on four different design and analysis software.
One of the most memorable moments of his life was when he got selected out of 2000 candidates at an interview conducted by Wipro, Kochi. “ I want to build a successful career and help my family. I also want to help the needy just like SDF did. The scholarship really inspired and motivated all of us to do good in our life and make something out of ourselves.” Jibin is also pursuing a degree in Engineering and has two semesters to complete.
From a difficult childhood fraught with financial burdens, Preethy has come a long way modest upbringing in a small town in Alappuzha, Preethy now is gradually ascending the corporate ladder and has an illustrious list of clientele under her purview.
After completing X standard , Preethy’s parents could not afford to finance her studies. Her brilliant scores earned her an SDF scholarship and she successfully completed her B.Tech in Electronics and Communication. Preethy is now a qualified senior software engineer with over 3.5 years of experience in an MNC in development, design , client relations and team coordination in the IT Sector. She also holds significant expertise in the Banking domain.
In a nutshell, Preethy’s responsibilities include coordinating with high-profile corporate clients, understanding their requirements, forging good relations,providing rechnical support, contributing towards phases and training subordinates.
It is indeed true that one good deed inspires another. “ I am happy that I was able to spread the message of sharing that I learned from SDF . I am currently sponsoring the education of two children and I am sure that when they grow up they will do the same.”
Ask Vaisakh about his childhood and he smiles impishly. “ I was a very naughty child . I loved running about and exploring new things. I used to participate in many singing competitions.”.
Vaisakh hails from a middle class family in Alappuzha. Believe it or not , one of Vaisakh Biggest challenges was studying Hindi in Standard V. However , when he graduated to standard to VI standard, he obtained the highest score. “ The second challenge I faced was the Engineering entrance exam. At the end, I managed to get a good rank and a merit seat.”.
Right from his childhood, Vaisakh exhibited a keen interest in mathematics and physics. He recalls receiving the SDF scholarship as the turning point in his life. This prompted him to pursue engineering as a career. He completed B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering. “ During the final year , we did a project called E-Classroom where anyone could take class from around the world using video conferencing. It also enabled students to download the study materials through a web application.”.
Vaisakh is currently working as a System Engineer at Tata Consultancy Service. He is part of Development, Maintenance and Production support team. He has developed enhancements for applications, fixed defects in applications and solved technical issues..
“ One of the main lessons I learnt from SDF is to ‘ carry forward’. Whenever you receive help from someone, you feel like helping others.”
Reshma’s father was a coir factory worker and the only working member in her entire family.” It was very difficult for my parents to take care of all our expenses with a meagre amount of money. I suffered continuous allergic problems till age of 17. When I got admission for B.Tech, I found it very challenging to complete the course with all my health problem.”
“ The SDF scholarship is not just about giving us money for the education. It imparted a unique culture, self awareness and a reminder of resonsiblities to our family and society. All the soft skill classes were conducted to instill these qualities in the SDF kudumbam.”
Reshma was always fascinated by the world of computer science engineering. She enjoys the new innovations and continous changes taking place in the field. One of her pet projects include the development of ‘ Anycab’, an application that automated the taxi cab system. “ With this app, users could track cabs, plot routes on Google maps and cab drivers could also accept or reject trips assigned to them,”
Reshma is currently placed at Cognizant as a Programmer Analyst Trainee. “ Now the only thing I want to do is to work for my family, to raise my brother and give them a better quality of living. I also want to take up the civil service exam to be an IAS officer. I want to be a part of many charitable organisations and help people stand on their own two feet just as how I was helped.”
Born in Panavally , Alappuzha, Veena’s Mother is a Mahila Pradhan agent and her father expired when she was a small child. After the death of her father, Veena and her mother moved to a joint family comprising ten members. Th entire family depended on the financial support of her uncle who worked at a spice factory.
With five children to educate in the joint family, Veena finished her schooling with a lot of financial difficulty. She passed out the Kerala Engineering Entrance Exam and got admission in an engineering college. However, she could not afford the four-year course and hostel fee.
After hearing about theSDF scholarship from one of her teachers. Veena applied and got selected, “ I felt that this was a blessing from God that showed me the way to a bright future. After the SDF scholarship, I never had to worry about financial support and could focus completely on my studies,” she says. Armed with a will to succeed , Veena completed her M.Tech from IIT,Madras and was the topper in the Geotechnical Engineering Division.
Veena has studied about the application of vertical drains to improve grounds containing clay deposits so that construction can be done effectively. This technique is suitable for heavy construction works in places like Cochin. “ From a local government school, I was able to achieve an international standard of education through IIT. My dream doesn’t end here. I want to study further and be recognized as an excellent Geotechnical Engineer and Researcher. I believe that God will always support us to face challenges as long as we are willing to work as hard as possible.”
Arun was born in vellarikundu, a remote village in the South East part of Kasaragod district. “We suffered many economic problems but my family managed to support me very well throughout my academic life. I completed my secondary education as the topper in my school.”
His greatest challenge was his introverted personality and an inferiority complex, “SDF had a very positive impact on me. The scholarship helped me in many ways. Apart from giving me sponsorship,
I made many friends who helped me overcome my difficulties and now I feel fully confident.”
Arun’s interests mainly related to science and philosophy. He decided to pursue the field of medicine and took part in annual medical camps as part of the National Service Scheme. He has attended five suc schemes while studying MBBS. “My greatest achievement so far was when I got the 11th rank in the premedical entrance exam in 2007. That changed my life.”
Arun plans on doing his post graduation in general medicine or any other relevant field and to become a good professional. “I am sure that the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation will continue to reach more talented students and remind them that nothing is impossible as long as you have a strong will to succeed.
Vidya was born in Punnapara, small town in Alappuzha. Her father is a farmer and her mother got paralyzed due to Poliomyelitis, a deadly disease that attacks the nervous system.
Aside from helping out around the house and looking after her mother, Vidya managed to balance her education side by side. With financial assistance from the SDF scholarship, Vidya completed a B.Tech in Computer Science and a Diploma in Computer hardware maintenance.
“ One of my most interesting projects was a SAP implementation project that I worked on for the establishment of Nokia’s luxury mobile, Vertu.” When she’s not working or studying , Vidya loves listen to music or cook.
“ I am very happy that I managed to successfully complete my studies and got placed in such a well reputed company. My goal is to rise high within the organization and make my parents pround of me.”
Being the only one in his entire family to receive a formal education serves as a constant motivational factor for Abhilash to achieve greater success. His father runs a modest stationery shop in Kollam and his mother is a homemaker.
Abhilash recalls a happy childhood peppered with fond memories of football, music and ornithology.
Right from his childhood, Abhilash knew that he wanted to become a doctor. “It seemed like a faraway dream at that point of time. During the time of admission, my father found it impossible to pay even a part pf the college fees.”
His brilliant scores gained him access to the SDF scholarship and he completed his MBBS degree. He has been instrumental in conducting medical relief camps at various stations and is an active participant in health-related activities for the public.
“One instance I will never forget is when I volunteered to do service as a doctor at a rural area. In that particular area, it was common for people to be in relief camps every monsoon. The greatest achievement is when you realize that the real joy in life comes not when you are paid a huge salary but when a mother thanks you for curing her child.” Abhilash’s future plans include working towards creating awareness regarding drug-resistant tuberculosis and its treatment.
Reshma spent most of her childhood at Cherthala, Alappuzha. Her father is a toddy tapper and her mother is a housewife. Reshma was born visually handicapped. “In Standard IV, I shifted to a special school for the blind in kanjirapalli. Learning Braille was a turning point in my life,”
As a blind student, Reshma faced a lot of challenges in her life. Due to the lack of availability of Braille text books, she found it difficult to study. Being uneducated, even her parents couldn’t teach her. With the help of a computer, Reshma was able to study for the exams. “I wrote the SSLC exam in Braille with special permission from the government. I thought I did well and was eagerly waiting for the results but it was unexpected. I got very less marks for many subjects. I thought it was the end of my career. We forwarded a complaint to the education department and after three days, the result was revised and I got 83% aggregate.”
During the course of her education, Reshma’s teachers were doubtful about the capability of a blind girl. “SDF’s ideology of helping poor but brilliant students is highly inspiring to me. It changed my attitude towards society and made me believe in the goodness of people once again.”
Reshma is the only blind student who used Braille for writing an exam in the history of Kerala. She scored fourth rank in B.A. History and first rank in M.A.History. Reshma is now pursuing an M.Phil in Kerala University and wants to become a History Professor. “In light of my experience, I can confidently say that hard work and prayer is the key to victory.”
Gauthamen was born in a small town called Rajapalyam in Tamil Nadu. Due to job-related difficulties his family kept moving. Fiercely protective, his parents shielded him from all of life’s tribulations. With just Rupees 5 in his pocket, Gauthamen’s father moved house to Alappuzha in search of a job. “My father faced a lot of challenges to educate me. Despite being a B.com graduate, he did many odd jobs to earn some extra money. I still remember the time he returned to work just seven days after undergoing a major surgery for gastric ulcers”.
After finishing his schooling, Gauthamen managed to secure a good score in the medical entrance exam but family had no idea how to meet the expense. Even the government fee was a huge amount for them. Gauthamen completed his MBBS with the help of SDF scholarship and subsequently did an MD in Pediatrics. “SDF has helped so many of us without expecting anything in return. This is the most divine deed”.
Gauthamen is currently a Fellow in Neonatal Medicine at John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford School of Pediatrics, Oxford. His medical projects include research on cognitive functions in children with sickle cell anemia, autonomic dysreflexia and autistic features in children with Chediak – Higashi syndrome. Gauthamen is hopeful of doing some path breaking research work at Oxford.
“ I feel that performing your duties and responsibilities with utmost sincerity and without any attachment to the results gives one some much needed peace and equipoise of mind to go further in life. I pray that all of us have the strength to archieve this.”
For Sanu, life changed because of a newspaper article. Sanu’s father was an electrician and his mother, a home maker. Although Sanu’s family supported him in all possible ways, they simply could not provide enough for three children.
When he was in school, Sanu would use blank pages from the previous year’s notebooks stitched together as a new notebook for the academic year. He did not have electricity or a proper desk at home. All that changed when his mother came across an article about SDF in the newspaper. She wrote to the trust and ever since then, Sanu received scholarships for higher secondary and college education. “ SDF even bought me my first bicycle! “ Financial problem never affected his studies thereafter and his family didn’t have to worry about expenses again.
Sanu currently works as a Technology Analyst for Infosys, based out of Texas. He has worked with clients from around the world and has completed over seven projects. “ SDF has helped mu family and I get through some tough times in life. The most fulfilling archievement for me is the fact that I am able to support my family and our lives have improved a lot compared to when we started. I have a successful career and a happy family now.”
Right form his childhood, Krishnakumar exhibited a keen interest in sea life. After waiting for 13 long years, his parents conceived him. Krishnakumar went through a drastic childhood experiencing both extreme wealth and poverty.
He was an average student but his performance in studies improved overtime, “ SDF made a very big difference in my life from Krishnakumar B.Sc to Krishnakumar M. Sc. It added one letter to my qualification but that made the biggest change in my life. It helped me develop my career as a Conservation Biologist.”
Krishnakumar coordinated the River Fish Monitoring conducted by Kerala State Biodiversity Board in six major rivers. “ I have been part of the first effort in India to remove an exotic fish, the African Catfish, causing damage to the native fish in Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. We received wide appreciation for the same.” Krishnakumar recently attended the CLP Conservation Management and Leadership Training Workshop held at Barrier Lake Filed Station University of Alberta, Canada. He acquired a grant of Rupees 30 lakhs from funding agencies and also discovered two new fish in Kerala.
Krishnakumar wishes to continue his career as a Conservation Biologist, protecting the native flora and fauna without affecting the livelihood of the dependent communities.
Mention the word ‘childhood’ and a vivid tapestry of images spins across Nithin’s mind” I had a lot fun times with my friends back home in Fort Kochi. I also remember the days when I used to go for moonlit walks with my father. He was my friend and guide.”
Nithin realised from a very young age that his family was suffering financially. “ I didn’t want to be a burden on my parents. My friends helped me by lending their books and that’s how I used to study.” With the assistance of SDF scholarship, Nithin is now completing his M.E( Mechanical Engineering) at BITS Pilani, Pilani campus.
Nithin put his knowledge to good use for society by designing and fabricating a low electric wheelchair. His other projects include FEM analysis of abrasive jet machining, winglet analysis using CFD techniques and studying the transient radiative heating characteristics of slabs in a reheating furnace. A bright student, Nithin sailed through the educational stages of his life securing the highest rank in Standard X and 3rd rank in Mechanical Engineering in CUSAT University.
“ My biggest achievement till date is that I have overcome my shyness and learnt to talk to people. My education has given me the confidence to push myself harder to achieve greater success.”
“ I belong to a below poverty line family and live in a rented house in Alappuzha. My father is a daily wage labourer and my mother is a home maker.” Muneer participated in elocutions, ey writing and debate competitions during his schooling. He was awarded the Ideal Student among all schools in the Alappuzha district. “It was very difficult to focus on studies with the ever rising educational and accommodation expenses. After going through my academic records and certificates, T was granted a scholarship from SDF. I would never have been able to pursue my post- graduation in a metro city without the financial aid provided.
Muneer was the Captain of National Service Scheme, head of the college debate team and delivered a paper presentation in a national seminar on Monetary Policy and Economic Growth. Despite his many achievements, one holds pride of place in Muneer’s memory. “I never thought that I would be able to study till Masters. SDF sponsored my education and I completed a degree in M.A. Economics and secured the first rank. I received a medical from the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa and Governor, K. Rosaiah. It was a great moment for me.”
Muneer is currently preparing for his civil service examination with aid from the SDF scholarship. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. We need to believe in our dreams and create a revolution to change the plight of India.”
Kannan Divakaran Nair was born in Thanneermukkom, a small village on the banks of the Vembanadu Lake. His father is a coir factory worker and his mother, a housewife.
An enthusiastic child, Kannan was an active participant in extracurricular activities and participated in National Level Children’s Science Congress. He also scored the 754th rank in the Kerala Engineering Entrance exam. Kannnan was keen on pursuing engineering but his sister’s marriage left family in dire financial straits.
After hearing about SDF from a few people, Kannan went on to apply for the scholarship program and got selected. He completed his B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering with Distinction. He got through the campus selection and was subsequently placed at Infosys. He played an important role in Integrating Windows Communication Foundation with legacy systems and integrating hardware with legacy applications.
Kannan believes that his greatest achievement was providing a better living environment and peace for his parents who struggled a lot to educate him. This August , Kannan will complete a successful three years’s as a Senior Systems Engineer. He strongly believes in the maxim, “ Helping hands are better than praying lips” and is working towards giving back to the needy.
Vahib hails from Puthenchira , a village in Thrissur. His father is a mason, organic farmer and environmental activist. His mother has been an Anganvadi teacher for 28 years. Both his parents instilled in him a strong educational foundation, right from his childhood.
When Vahib joined B.Tech in GEC Thrissur, his family was earning just enough to manage their daily expenses. Vahib was forced to take educational loans to pursue higher studies. “ The scholarship scheme from SDF came at the right time. It really boosted my confidence. It helped me to be self-sufficient and not burden my family. I was able to concentrate fully on my studies and not worry about money,” he says.
As Part of his college project, Vahib developed a hydrogen generator to improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. This effectively reduced the emission of unburnt hydrocarbons.
Vahib’s childhood dream was on to work at the BPCL Kochi refinery and he still amazed at having achieved this dream. “ We were lucky enough to receive support at the right time from SDF. I want to return the favour by giving back to those who are in need.”
Anuradha was born near the Kalarkode Mahadevan temple in Alappuzha. Her father was an auto rickshaw driver and her mother worked in local Anganvadi. As Anuradha’s parents were working full time, her grandmother and uncle raised her.
She was keen participant in school cultural activities and exhibited great leadership qualities. These characteristics made her the class representative for consective academic years. During Standard X , Anuradha was suddenly caught in the middle of a conflict between her headmaster and teacher. A victim of this clash, Anuradha was prevented from attending tuition classes.
“ Apart from these untoward incidents, I faced a lot of financial difficulty. Like every middle class family, I suffered a lot to pay the school fees. The SDF scholarship was of great support to my parents,” says Anuradha.
She went on to complete her graduation and post graduation in Computer Applications. She is currently working on a project for a German client and is undergoing training in the German language. Anuradha hopes to rise to greater heights in the IT field and help her parents and all those who supported her during her difficult childhood.
“ As one of the SDF scholarship recepients, I wish to tell all the students who are hardworking and passionate that they can indeed achieve their dreams. I wish all the success in the world to SDF’s future projects.”
Rajesh lived in a small town in Alappuzha throughout his childhood. Brought up in a typical middle class setting has truly made Rajesh appreciate every little thing that life has blessed him with. His father is a salesman in a small jewellery shop and his mother is a housewife. Rajesh was caught in a perennial struggle to land a steady job. Being uneducated, his parents were unable to advice him about further studies and career options.
Only after completing his tenth standard did Rajesh find out about engineering exams. He aced the entrance test, got admitted into Kerala’s top engineering college and subsequently got placed in an IT firm.
He is presently the Quality In Charge – Projects of GE Water and Process Technologies. “ We recently developed a Micro Biological Reactor Skid, an export Dubai project. It was a great success .” Rajesh’s goal is to be in a top position in a petroleum-based company and complete his Master’s degree abroad.
“Every time I think of all the hardships faced in my life, I realise that it is education I received that makes me feel proud of myself and keeps my head held high. Education has made it possible for me to achieve my dreams and will keep me charged for the future. I hope that many more like me are recipients of SDF’s scholarships and can look forward to a bright future,” says Rajesh.
Born in Alappuzha, Saranya was a just a one-year-old baby when her father abandoned the family. Her mother, a daily wage labourer, shifted along with Saranya to her brother's house.
Throughout her childhood, Saranya's mother struggled to make ends meet. "My mother sacrificed a lot to educate me. We were burdened by financial problems," she says.
"SDF changed my life right from secondary school. At the beginning I considered it only as financial support. Later, their soft skill development classes and sessions really changed my personality. Today, I have a lot of friends and support systems from the SDF family."
saranya believes that anything is possible with hardwork and sincerity. "My first achievement was when I got A+ in SSLC. That grade helped me get the SDF scholarship. I was able to complete my graduation in Electronics & Communication Engineering, which in turn helped me land a good job at Union Bank of India, "she says.
"My most important goal for the future is to set aside a part of my income towards helping underprivileged people. I also dream about building a home and having a family."
Right from an early age, Rahul was certain that he was meant for big things. He was born to a simple family. His father was a farmer and his mother, a homemaker. Academic brilliance throughout school and being part of clubs and extracurricular activities was a major part of his schooling. Brimming with enthusiasm, Rahul was in the Student Council, participated in dramas, volunteered at technical fests and conducted soft skill development programs. The SDF scholarship assisted him in pursuing a B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering where he dabbled in interesting projects. “I worked on a digital clock with alarm & temperaturesensors. I also developed a cryogenic level sensor for detecting the amount of fuel remaining in re-generatively cooled cryogenic engines. Rahul currently works as a System Engineer at Infosys. He is well equipped with technical knowledge including java programming, VHDL programming and simulation and PIC programming. He has made lasting friends from the SDF community. His dream is to complete his post-graduation degree from reputed institution.
Beena’s world fell apart when her husband returned from Gulf with paralysis. From a homemaker she had to take the responsibility of being the breadwinner for the family to take care of her husband, ailing parents and two young children. Organic farming gave an opportunity to start something with little capital, yielded quick results and enough flexibility to take care of her family also. She started with a meagre 35 cents of land but expanded her activities to two acres in the neighboring land without having to pay lease. Her day stretches from 3 a.m. in the morning to late in the night. With her indomitable spirit, hard work and keen mind she has today evolved into a very successful agriculture entrepreneur who not only grows produce but also provides value added services like catering, nursery products etc. There isn’t an area in farming that she hasn’t tried: vegetables, fish, terrace farming, aqua phonics, diary, poultry etc. She has also started a catering service and can provide food for a few people to groups as big as 650 people. The fact that she uses poison free organic products gives huge credibility to her catering service. In between she also finds time to feed her husband and parents who cannot eat by themselves. She is indeed the Queen of integrated farming and value add services. And she credits organic farming for changing their life for the better.
Chandran Master believes in walking the talk. As a teacher, he did not want to restrict himself to giving advice to children; he wanted to set the right example for his students through his action. The path he took was to take up organic farming and expose his students to love nature, animals, and soil. He gives hands on experience to his students in his farm on growing paddy and vegetables without poisoning the environment and food. He has also formed a collective of Organic farmers to sell the organic products.
Mohandas inherited his passion for agriculture from his father who used to send truckloads of vegetables to Tamilnadu from Kerala in the 1960s. Throughout his entire life, he has retained this passion for agriculture , even though his job as a police officer and later as an NRI at Saudi Arabia took him away from home. He used to grow vegetables in the police stations as well as the quarters. As soon as he saved enough money from his stint in Saudi Arabia, he bought 6 acres of land and returned to his first love- farming. He moved to organic farming when he realized the adverse impact of using chemical fertilizers and insecticides. He has now expanded cultivation to over 11 acres and successfully produces a wide range of organic vegetables
A teacher turned K.S.R.T.C Conductor, Narayanan, has been involved in farming throughout his life. Due to the tremendous passion towards farming, he sold his land in the town and procured one acre land in a rural area. The K.S.R.T.C job helped him in sourcing high quality seeds and plants from across the state. A strong proponent of organic farming right from the start, his innovative mind came up with ingenuous solutions to the problems that he faced as a farmer- He identified and used specific local herbs to protect the crops from the attack of wild boars; he came up with a recipe of locally available herbs to protect plantains against insects; he used the rice gruel to accelerate the growth of mango tree. These are a few examples of how he has adapted locally available material to solve the farmer’s problems. He also shares his knowledge with others.