Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam
Pride of Colombo’s Hindu women:
Laxmi Senthilnathan
The Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam celebrated its treasured 80th Anniversary
under the patronage of Member of Parliament Prabha Ganeshan on December
10 at Kalagam hall, 23 Rudra Mawatha, Wellawatta, Colombo 06.
In fact, throughout the 80 years of its existence the Saiva Mangaiyar
Kalagam has been in the forefront of efforts to foster Hinduism and to
promote Tamil culture among the Hindu women in Colombo.
Sivanandini Duraswamy, president of Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam |
Further Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam was established on December 10, 1930
with the blessings of Srimath Swami Vipulananda by three women namely
Nageshwary Sornacanthy Nallainathan, Balambikai Namasivayam and
Rasamuthu Sathasivam. Nallainthan who was one of the triad of the
architects who founded the Kalagam was secretary from its inception to
1933 and again from 1943 up to the time of her untimely death in
September 1960. She was the first head mistress of Saiva Mangaiyar
Vidyalayam when it was founded in 1932 and acted as its Manager.
Nallinathan was educated at St Bridget’s Convent and was the first
woman to win a scholarship to enter the university in 1922. After her
marriage, she joined the staff of Ramanathan College in 1924 and founded
Saiva Mangayar Sabai along with lady Ramanathan and few others. The next
year, under the leadership of lady Bertram, the Jaffna Women’s Health
Association was formed and Nallainthan was one of the organizing founder
members who read a paper “The work before us” at the inaugural meting
held at “Mission House”.
Back again in Colombo, she was actively interested in the welfare of
community when her husband Dr Nallainthan was president of the Western
Province youth congress. Rasamuthu Sathasivam who was one of the
architects who founded the Kalagam was its president in 1934 and held
that office till 1937 and again from 1941 up to the time of her death in
1962. She was the president of the Kalagam and manager of the Vidyalayam.
The present president of Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam and manager of Saiva
Mangaiyar Vidyalyam Sivanandini Duraiswamy is indeed an extra ordinary
woman of wisdom, character, culture, ability and leadership.
She pilots the affairs of the Kalagam and Vidyalyam with distinction,
indefatigable energy, undaunted, determination, unimpeachable integrity,
fairness, total dedication and commitment. In fact, Sivanandini
Duraisamy’s greatness is unique. There is a ring of authenticity and
nobility of courage and earnestness in whatever she does. She is
constantly pragmatic and practical in her approach to the problem of the
vidyalayam.
Further, the main objectives of Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam (Hindu
women’s society) are to foster the study and encourage the practice of
Hinduism and to run a Hindu school to promote culture and scholarship
among the Tamils, to foster Carnatic music and Bharatha natya, to
conduct lectures in Tamil.
The Kalagam in keeping with its objectives started several
institutions at different times.
Indeed, the commemoration of Saiva Mangaiyar Kalagam’s 80th
anniversary fills us with righteous pride and pleasure. It is indeed, a
timely, well deserved and beautiful gesture and we have to congratulate
the president S Duraiswamy and committee of management of the Saiva
Mangaiyar Kalagam for making elaborate arrangements for the success of
this 80th anniversary celebrations.
Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam principal, P Gajendradas should be highly
commended for piloting the affairs of the vidylayam with total
dedications and commitment. She is an embodiment of discipline and
maintains high degree of discipline. In fact Maithily Sivapathasundram
obtained highest marks in last year GCE (Advance Level) examination in
the Bio-Stream and has been placed first in the whole island. In fact,
she has not only brought name and fame for the vidyalayam but she had
put Saiva Mangaiyar Vidiyalayam on the world map.
Indeed, the flame of wisdom and brilliance imparted to the students
at Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam will permeate one’s very being and make
one shine to dispel the gloom of poverty and ignorance.
On this great and glorious celebrations of the 80th anniversary of
“Saiva Managiyar Kalagam” let us remember with gratitude the founders of
the Kalagam and also the commitment of the past and present principals,
teachers of Saiva Mangaiyar Vidyalayam (Hindu Ladies College) who have
elevated this college to pristine position in the island and given her
fame, name, glory and global dimension. |