“Students promise their mothers that they will never take alcohol in their lives.”
On 5th August 2015, Sevalaya organized an historic event in the campus. On this day in the year 1888 Mohandas Gandhi had promised his mother Putli Ba stating that he will never touch alcohol. This had enabled him to get permission from his mother to go to England for higher studies. Exactly 100 years later Sevalaya started (1988) with lofty ideals. prominent among them was to follow the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.
Sevalaya is concerned on the future of the youth and therefore take every effort to see they are abstained from such evil and pernicious practice of consuming alcohol. it was cautioned in the programme that consuming alcohol will affect health; families will suffer and it will spell catastrophic consequences in the institutions of families.
The oath was administered by G.Ram Mohan, a staunch Gandhian and Former Safety commissioner, Indian Railways, who later presented a slide show on Gandhiji’s life.
350 students and their mothers were present on the occasion.
A. Annamalai, Director, National Gandhi Museum, New Delhi, said that this programme organised by Sevalaya is a unique one and the first of its kind in history which would surely lay a strong foundation for the well being of the students. He impressed upon the students the sanctity of this pledge which should not be taken as a casual repletion of words but must be adhered to in all earnestness.
P. Vimala, mother of P. Yogeswaran of VIII Std was in tears after her son held her hand and promised her that he would never drink alcohol. She felt it was a good thing that Sevalaya organised this and explained to the children about the dangers of alcoholism and made them promise to their mothers that they would not drink.
D. Praveen of XII Std felt that this was a novel way to make the students resist the temptation of drinking alcohol as the promise made to their mothers will serve as a watch dog.
Ram Ram Murali presented 900 copies of Avvaiyar Manimalai to the students. Member of the Puduchery Congress committee Panneerselvam and Gandhian Mohan participated in the function.
Earlier V.Muralidharan welcomed the gathering and explained the significance of this event.
A.A. Kingston presented Vote of thanks and the function came to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.
