We have been published in this week's Kumudam magazine. Kumudam is a very popular Tamil biweekly magazine. Not only read by people across Tamil Nadu, it is also read by Tamil expatriates around the world looking to catch up on news of their home culture.

This week's edition is dated for September 17th, 2008 and we can be found on pages 62-64. The article is full of photographs that show some of our events as well as some of the members of our group. Below is the article in Tamil as well as a translation by Malathi Ramgopal.

These are the students of Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai. Having established a socially-conscious organization named ‘Sangam India’, they are involved in many service-oriented activities without making much noise. They aim to improve the living conditions of poor people.

Hundreds of other medical students are also members of this organization. Where does all this responsibility come from?

Says Nivedita, a second year M.B.B.S student who started the organization: “In Ramavaram, which is close to our college, there are 96 houses. These are all huts. They cannot afford even three square meals each day. We would see them everyday on our way to college. We could not tolerate to see our fellow human beings suffer so much. We started the organization with the sole purpose of helping them. The organization that was started with just two people currently has hundreds of students as members.”

Says Bhavya, with a very hopeful voice, “For now, we have just adopted the Ramavaram area. We are going to supply food and medical facility. Students that have stopped school due to lack ability to pay fees will be sent to school. With the help of our post-graduate students, we run medical camps and give free medical check-ups. All in all, by improving the quality of life for these people, we want to make them stand on their own legs.”

Where does money come from for all this?

“Our pocket money, of course. We have more than 3000 students in our college. Even if each one of us contributes Rs 100, it is a lot.”

Is there time in the midst of your hectic medical courses?

“We have the heart to help!”

Amidst youngsters that ‘pick-up’ and ‘drop,’ these responsible medical students are the real stars!

visit: kumudam.com