My Mentor, My Guiding Light: Remembering Prof M.A.Windey,SJ

Prof M.A.Windey,SJ, Founder,VRO,India.

_By K. Govindaraju, Founder – SEVAI, Tiruchirappalli_

Some people build houses. A few rare souls build human beings. Prof. Michael Antony Windey was one such soul.

Born in Belgium in 1930, Prof. M.A. Windey, SJ came to India as a Jesuit priest and philosopher, but he chose to remain as a son of this soil. Deeply moved by the poverty he saw in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, he founded the *Village Reconstruction Organisation (VRO) in Guntur* with a revolutionary yet simple idea: development cannot be donated, it must be built by the people themselves.

Through his famous *shramadan labour camps*, he brought together village youth, students from across India, and volunteers from Europe. Side by side, they laid bricks, mixed cement, and raised over 10,000 homes, schools, and community halls. For him, a house was not just concrete and roof — it was dignity for a Dalit family, security for a widow, and hope for a landless labourer.

I was fortunate to be mentored by him for a decade in my formative years. He did not teach in classrooms; he taught on construction sites. From him I learned the three mantras that became the foundation of SEVAI in 1984:

*1. Simplicity:* Live simply so that others may simply live.

*2. Self-reliance:* Empower villages to solve their own problems.

*3. Service to the last:* Always start with the poorest of the poor.

Prof. M.A. Windey would often say, _"Go to the villages, live with them, and let them lead."_ That spirit guides SEVAI even today in our work with women's groups, child education, and village infrastructure across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

He left us in 2009, but he lives on. He lives on in every village he rebuilt, and in every activist he moulded.

To me, he was not just a founder of an organisation. He was my Guru, who taught me that true service is to disappear into the joy of others.

_In eternal gratitude,_

*K. Govindaraju*

Founder, SEVAI, Tiruchirappalli

20, September 2026.

K.Govindaraju, Founder, SEVAI.

Grandparents Day Celebrations in SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary school Petttavaithalai

*GRANDPARENTS DAY CELEBRATION - 12th September 2026*

*SEVAI SHANTHI MATRICULATION HR. SEC. SCHOOL, PETTAVAITHALAI*

Selfie Cornor of the grand parents Day

Grandparents Day was celebrated with immense joy and love at SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Pettavaithalai on *12th September 2026*.

The celebration was a beautiful tribute to the pillars of our families. Over *200 grandparents of our kindergarten children* participated enthusiastically, bringing blessings and boundless happiness to the campus. The kindergarten premises were beautifully decorated with colourful balloons, flowers and creative artworks made by the children.

The programme commenced with a prayer song. *Our beloved School Principal Mrs. P. Chitra welcomed the gathering* with a warm and heartfelt address, emphasizing the invaluable role of grandparents in shaping a child's values and character.

The little stars of Kindergarten mesmerized everyone with their adorable rhymes, songs, dance performances and sweet speeches dedicated to their grandparents.

The grandparents were filled with joy and emotion. They shared their pleasantries, blessed the children, and enjoyed fun-filled interactive moments with them. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, love and nostalgia.

Finally, *Assistant Head Mistress Mrs. Janathamani proposed the vote of thanks*, expressing sincere gratitude to all the grandparents for their gracious presence and to the teachers and parents for making the event a grand success.

It was truly a day of bonding, love and cherished memories that will remain etched in our hearts.

*A Celebration of Love that Connects Generations!*Kris

OZONE Triple Festival 2026

*தலைப்பு: ஓசோன் முப்பெரும் விழாவில் ஜொலித்த சேவை சாந்தி பள்ளி; தமிழறிஞர் கோவிந்தசாமிக்கு விருது*

அறிவையும் இயற்கையையும் போற்றும் வகையில், *தென் மண்டல தொடர் கல்வி வாரியம் (OZONE), திருச்சி - 620001* சார்பில் *உலக எழுத்தறிவு தினம், ஆசிரியர் தினம் மற்றும் சர்வதேச ஓசோன் தின முப்பெரும் விழா* பெட்டவாய்த்தலை *சேவை சாந்தி மெட்ரிக் மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளியில்* செப்.8, 2026 அன்று கோலாகலமாக கொண்டாடப்பட்டது.

முன்னாள் மாவட்ட நீதிபதி *திரு. கு. கருணாநிதி @ விடியல் குகன்* சிறப்பு விருந்தினராகவும், *பத்மஸ்ரீ விருதாளர் திரு. மராச்சி சுப்புராமன்* தலைமையாளராகவும் பங்கேற்றனர். *ஓசோன் தலைவர் திரு. கே. கோவிந்தராஜு* வரவேற்புரையில் எழுத்தறிவு, ஆசிரியர் மதிப்பு மற்றும் பருவநிலை பாதுகாப்பின் அவசியத்தை விளக்கினார்.

*அன்றைய நட்சத்திர விருதாளர்கள்*

> *அறிவு இணைப்பு விருது* - சேவை சாந்தி மெட்ரிக் பள்ளி, பெட்டவாய்த்தலை

> *அறிவு இணைப்பு விருது* - தமிழறிஞர் திரு. V. கோவிந்தசாமி

> *சிறந்த ஆசிரியர் விருது 2026* - *திருமதி. பிந்து, முதல்வர், நாராயணா இ-டெக்னோ பள்ளி, திருச்சி*

> *மகிளா சக்தி விருது* - திருமதி. ஆர். பிரியதர்ஷினி

*பேச்சாளர்கள் சொன்னது என்ன?*

*திரு. குகன் (முன்னாள் நீதிபதி):* "மதிப்புகள் இல்லாத கல்வி, கல்வியே அல்ல. பாரதியும் பாரதிதாசனும் கற்றுத் தந்தது போல, கல்வி மனித குலத்திற்கும் அனைத்து உயிர்களுக்கும் சேவை செய்ய வேண்டும்."

*திரு. V. கோவிந்தசாமி:* எழுத்தறிவை சூழலியலோடு இணைத்து உருக்கமாக பேசினார். "இரண்டு ஓசோன்கள் உள்ளன - ஒன்று அறிவை காக்கிறது, மற்றொன்று உயிரை காக்கிறது. யானைகளை காப்பாற்றினால் காடுகளை காக்கலாம், காடுகளை காத்தால் ஓசோனை காக்கலாம், ஓசோனை காத்தால் மனித குலத்தை காக்கலாம்."

500-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள், ஆசிரியர்கள் பங்கேற்றனர். எழுத்தாளர் *ஜவஹர் ஆறுமுகம், நுகர்வோர் செயற்பாட்டாளர் கதிரவன்,  அறிவொளி கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி, பெ. அன்புமணி* ஆகியோர் வாழ்த்துரை வழங்கினர்.

*வெற்றிக்கு பின்னால்...*

இந்த மாபெரும் நிகழ்ச்சியை *கௌரவ இயக்குநர் திருமதி. சுதா பயாஸ்* அவர்கள், *முதல்வர் திருமதி. ப. சித்ரா, உதவி தலைமை ஆசிரியர்கள் திருமதி. ஜனதாமணி & திரு. ராஜேந்திரன்* மற்றும் ஆசிரியர் குழுவினரின் ஆதரவோடு சிறப்பாக ஒருங்கிணைத்தார்

சுவையான உணவு ஏற்பாடுகளை *திருமதி. ஜி. மாளவிகா வாணி* செய்திருந்தார். *திருமதி. அமலா ஜெயகுமார் குழுவினரின் எழுத்தறிவு விழிப்புணர்வு பாடல்கள்* அனைவரையும் கவர்ந்தது.

தேசிய கீதத்துடன் விழா நிறைவு பெற்றது.* Kris

---

SEVAI Shanthi School Shines in OZONE TRIPLE Festival,Tamil Scholar Kavingar V Govindasamy Honoured

*📍 TRICHY | PETTAVAITHALAI - OZONE TRIPLE CELEBRATION 2026*

*Headline: SEVAI Shanthi School Shines in OZONE Triple Festival 

Tamil Scholar V.Govindasamy Honoured*

Kavingar V.Govindasamy Honoured 

In a unique celebration of knowledge and nature, the *South Zone Board of Continuing Education (OZONE), Trichy - 620001* celebrated *World Literacy Day, Teachers' Day & International OZONE Day* together at *SEVAI Shanthi Matriculation Hr. Sec. School, Pettavaithalai* on 8th September 2026.

Former District Judge *Thiru. K. Karunanidhi @ Vidiyal Kukan* was the Guest of Honour and *Padmashree Awardee Thiru. Marachi Subburaman* presided over the function. *OZONE Chairman Shri. K. Govindaraju* delivered the welcome address on the need for Literacy, Teacher Respect and Climate Action.

*STAR AWARDEES OF THE DAY*

> *Knowledge Connectivity Award* - SEVAI Shanthi Matric School, Pettavaithalai

> *Knowledge Connectivity Award* - Tamil Scholar Thiru. Vee. Govindasamy

> *Outstanding Teacher Award 2026* - *Ms. Bindu, Principal, Narayana e-Techno School, Trichy*

> *Mahila Sakthi Award* - Smt. R. Priya Dharshini

*WHAT THE SPEAKERS SAID*

*Thiru. Kukan (Former Judge):* "Education without values is no education. Bharathiar and Bharathidasan taught us that education must serve humanity and all living beings."

*Thiru. Vee. Govindasamy:* Gave a powerful speech linking Literacy with Ecology. "There are two OZONE's - one protects knowledge, one protects life. Save Elephants to save Forests, Save Forests to save OZONE, Save OZONE to save Mankind."

Over 500 students, teachers and educationists participated. Eminent personalities *Jawahar Arumugam, Kathiravan, Therednathan, Arivoli Krishna Moorthy, P. Anbumani* felicitated.

*Behind The Success*

The mega event was coordinated by *Honorary Director Mrs. Sudha Bhyas* with the strong support of *Principal Smt. P. Chitra, AHMs Mrs. Janathamani & Thiru. Rajeandran* and staff team.

Food by *Mrs. G. Malavika Vani* and soulful *Literacy Awareness Songs by Smt. Amala Jayakumar & Team* were special attractions.

The programme ended with National Anthem.* Kris

*30 year-Old Community Forest Allegedly Razed for Windmill Project in Karur,Farmers Appeal*

Felling of trees for Windmill project.

*DASINAICKANOOR (KARUR DT):* concern prevails in Dasinaickanoor village, Pappakkapatti Panchayat, Karur District, after villagers alleged large-scale deforestation and destruction of water bodies by alledged TATA Power Renewable Energy Private Limited for its windmill project.

According to residents, over 190 acres of village common land was transformed into a lush green belt over the last 30 years through the tireless efforts of a grass-roots voluntary organisation and the local public. The land was enriched with massive tree plantations and water conservation structures like minor check dams and recharge pits, which became a model for Climate Change Adaptation and ensured water for marginal farmers' wells.

Villagers now allege that the company has chopped down the fully-grown trees and demolished the water bodies, blocking the natural water flow in the commons.

Social activist *Mr. Gramium Narayanan*, who is leading the protest with farmers, said, _"This is a cruel paradox. You cannot build green energy by destroying 30 years of green cover and the water security of poor farmers."_

The community has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Government to immediately intervene, stop the deforestation, conduct an impartial inquiry, and protect the common lands and water resources of Dasinaickanoor.,* Kris

From Relief to Root-Redefining Real Service

K.Govindaraju, Director, SEVAI, Trichy 

At a time when charity is often judged by the number of freebies distributed, a vital question arises — what is real service?

For many, service has become mere leaf-watering — green for a day, withered the next. True service, social workers assert, lies in fertilizing the root and raising it into a tree.

This philosophy — _“Fertilizing the root to grow a tree is true service; happiness in giving, pride in nurturing”_ — is now redefining genuine charitable work.

Experts see two models: *Relief and Empowerment.* Relief — a notebook, a food packet, a medical camp — is immediate but temporary. Empowerment is permanent — teaching a child to learn, skilling a woman to feed her family for life, building health awareness in a community.

As Shri. K.Govindaraju, Director of SEVAI aptly puts it, _“An organisation should not create beneficiaries, but self-reliant citizens.”_

Real service stands on three pillars: *One,* it goes to the root and addresses the cause, not the symptom. *Two,* it sustains — like a grown tree, it stands on its own and gives shade to others long after the gardener has left. *Three,* it finds joy not in how much is given, but in how much people grow.

In essence, charities must evolve from donors into gardeners — nurturing with patience and celebrating when the garden blooms on its own.

For, real service is never counted in photographs. It is counted in lives transformed.

*- Krish*