The Madras Seva Sadan

Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao

Awards, Accolades & Recognitions

• Knighted by the Crown and made Knight Bachelor (pre-independence)
• King George V Medal
• Kind George VI Medal

Other positions held

• Vakil in the Original side of the Madras High Court
• Justice of the Madras High Court
• Officiating Chief Justice of the Madras High Court
• Member, Delimitation Committee
• Agent of Berar in the Dominion of the Nizam of Hyderabad
• President, The Madras Seva Sadan

Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao was born on the 18 of July 1878. After a brilliant academic career, he educated from Madras Christian College. On securing his B.L. Degree, he became apprenticed to Sir C.V. Kumaraswamy Sastri. He was enrolled as a Vakil in July 1903. In July 1904, he formed a partnership with Mr. Radhakrishnaya, his collegemate and they practiced under the name of Venkatasubba Rao and Radhakrishnaya.

In the space of few years, Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao became one of the leaders of the Bar. His forte was on the Original Side.

He was appointed Judge of the Madras High Court in 1921. This appointment was unique in two ways. Sir Venkatasubba Rao was the first practitioner on the Original Side to be appointed as a Judge. Secondly, he was the youngest person to sit on the bench of the Madras High Court.

In the year 1922, he married Andalamma. This marriage was a milestone in his life. Together with Andalamma, he was able to implement his passion for social welfare and reform, in founding The Madras Seva Sadan.

After serving as a Judge for about 17 years, he retired in 1939 as the acting Chief Justice of the Madras High Court. He will always be remembered first and foremost as one of the greatest Judges of the Madras High Court.

In 1939, he was appointed as the Agent for Berar of the Nizam of Hyderabad. This choice fell on him and it was given to him as the first agent to lay the foundation, to devise the pattern and set the tradition of the high and unique office which had no precedence to fall back on.

Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao’s judicial career was marked by his passion for justice, complete independence of outlook and adherence to the truth as he saw it. He had an iron will and never accepted conformity or ready acquiescence as a principle of action. As a result, his long judicial career was one of the most successful and eventful in Madras Legal History.

Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao had a passion for thoroughness which he carried into his everyday life. He hated shoddiness and disorder. He was scrupulously particular about dress and food. Cleanliness was to him a part of Godliness. Then again, in his public activities, he was equally thorough. He could not tolerate anything slipshod, anything vague and equivocal or anything which was underhand. He was always kind and courteous. He was a great philanthropist, giving away a great part of his wealth for social causes, in particular to The Madras Seva Sadan.

Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao - The Youngest Judge in the Madras High Court Another great passion of his was for Social Reform. He stood for the rights of women and their status in Hindu Society. The Madras Seva Sadan is a standing monument of his zeal and enthusiasm to uplift Indian women. At the age of 82 years, on the 30th of December 1960, he reached the lotus feet of the Almighty, ending a glorious and beautiful life.

Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao

Awards, Accolades & Recognitions

• Padma Bhushan
• Kaiser-i-Hind
• George VI Medal

Other positions held

Chairperson

• Reception Committee of the fourth Madras constituent conference of Women on Educational Reform

President

• The Nurses Association.

Vice-President

• The Nurses Club-1928.
• Old Girl's Association of the Presidency High School.
• The Society for the protection of Cow and Animals Madras 1928-1930.
• The Music Academy.

Honorary Secretary

• The Madras Children's Aid Society.

Member

• The District Secondary Education Board -1936.
• The Madras Nurses and Midwives Council.
• Lady Members of the Advisory Committee of the General Hospital 1937-1940.
• Advisory Council of the Queen Mary's College 1938 -1941.
• Advisory Committee, Government Hospital for Women and Children 1930-1937.
• General Committee - Indian Red Cross Senate -1939.
• Governing Body of the Indian Medical School and Hospital in 1935.
• The King Emperor's Anti-Tuberculosis Fund.
• The Central Advisory Committee for Women's Education -1930.
• The Training School for Health Visitors Course.
• Lady Sub - Committee of the M.S.RC.
• The Provincial Council of Girl Guides Association -1930.
• Executive Committee Member of the Vigilance Association.
• Alder woman of the City Corporation Council 1938.
• Honorary Visitor of the School of Arts and Crafts for 3 years from 1930.
• Lady Assessor at Madras - Royal Labour Commission

About Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao :

One hundred years ago, Madras was, as you can imagine, a very different place, where huge, shady trees formed lovely avenues, very few vehicles were seen on the road, and people led gracious, simple lives.

It was, in other ways, not an idyllic place. There were many injustices in those days, especially against women, who were not treated well at all.

It was into that world that our founder, Andalamma, was born in the year 1894. Since she came from a well-to-do family, she had the benefit of good education (not many girls did, in those days). She went to St. Thomas Convent, Mylapore and the Presidency High School, Egmore. It was at these institutions that Andalamma learnt all the crafts and skills of a young lady of her time. Andalamma, as she grew up, was also learning something else that no school taught, but everyone needed. That special 'something' was Social Awareness - the ability to feel compassion for the poor, helpless and less fortunate and the desire to someday do something to change their plight.

Little did she realize how her opportunity would come. At a very young age, Andalamma became a widow and thought she must now accept a life of seclusion - for widows in those days could not remarry or mingle in society.

It was then that she met the person who would change her life, the Hon'ble Justice M. Venkatasubba Rao, a brilliant and much respected judge who was determined to make Andalamma his wife - a brave gesture in those times! Justice Venkatasubba Rao was a very special man - learned, courageous and upright in his beliefs. He deeply wished to transform the ills of society and in his young wife he found the ideal partner.

Together, they set out to brighten the lives of hundreds of under-privileged people. The two of them believed in living by example - never to preach, but to practice their ideals and to show others by lighting the way.

This is exactly what they did. In 1928, with their own money (a grand sum of Rs. 10,000 which at that time was a generous figure indeed), they founded The Madras Seva Sadan - an institute to protect, teach and help destitute women and children and people who had been abandoned and mistreated by society.

Here, on the sprawling grounds of this noble institution, all the ideals and love in the mind and heart of Lady Andal began to take shape. At The Madras Seva Sadan, women who thought they had nothing to live for found new purpose and meaning in life. They were fed and clothed, given work, taught skills and encouraged to become happy, independent members of society. Their numbers grew from 8 to 3,000 in just 30 years.

The Madras Seva Sadan and all the many other institutions under it, grew from strength to strength under Lady Andal's firm and careful guidance. She was not just a leader of people, but also took a personal interest in each one. Her stately presence was beloved by all.

Dressed in beautiful silk sarees she would weave flowers into the hair of little girls, feed them personally with rice balls, take them for evening drives to the beach. (She was one of the first ladies to drive her own car in those old-fashioned times). When the holidays came and some children had no home to go to, she took them to her own beautiful house where they spent memorable times together.

In fact, she was truly a mother to many, taking care of them until they were old enough to marry, finding good husbands for the girls, and organizing the weddings, for which she herself would buy the sarees and jewellery.

Lady Andal worked tirelessly to organize the many activities and functions of The Madras Seva Sadan. Breaking all barriers of caste, creed, religion and social stigma, The Madras Seva Sadan took in people from any and every background. In fact, once a Harijan girl joined the school, but the upper caste children did not want to eat with her. Lady Andal did not scold or lecture, but taught the children a lesson they would never forget. She invited all the children to eat with her. At the meal, she seated the Harijan child on her right, with the other children all around them and then she began to eat. Once the others saw this, they realized how small and limited their thinking was. The problem never came up again.

This was how Lady Andal, like a bright star, lit the way for others, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and prejudice. Yes, for all her greatness, she was a humble lady. She was honoured with very prestigious awards – the King George's Medal, the Kaiser-i-Hind Medal and the Padma Bhushan –for her outstanding work in social welfare, but these honours did not change her nor did any of her work ever come in the way of her being a loving and devoted wife. She stood by her husband during all his important postings.

She welcomed equally into her home the most illustrious of persons (royalty, national leaders and famous personalities) as also the humblest. No one could ever doubt their welcome in her home. She always had time to celebrate birthdays and festivals with the family and filled their lives with joyful moments, beautiful gifts and fun-filled occasions.

In 1960, Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao passed away and it was as if the light had gone out of Lady Andal's life. Deeply grieved, she bore her loss with courage and still carried on her duties with a smile and a kind word for all. In 1969 she joined her husband at the Lotus Feet of the Almighty. The Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School has been named in honour of this great lady, carrying with pride, not only her name, but also her noble ideals. Our motto is inspired by her wonderful life: To brighten the way for others, to serve with one's own hands, with one's whole heart and always WITH A SMILE.

Mr. N. V. Rao

Other positions held

• Hon. General Secretary of The Madras Seva Sadan – Chetpet and Tambaram.
• President of the The Madras Seva Sadan – Multipurpose social organisation.
• Seva Sadan Higher Secondary School Committee – Tambaram.
• Vice President – The Madras Seva Sadan, Chetpet.

About Mr. N. V. Rao :

The late Correspondent, Mr. N. V. Rao, was born on 16th May 1925, in a well-known family of the Vaishya Community in Madras. After the early loss of his own parents, he was brought up by his paternal aunt, who was herself childless.

In the Home of Lady Andal and Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao, he had the benefits of their wonderful tutelage and guidance. He lived, travelled, and learnt from them, the ways of the elite Indian people involved in the field of Law, Social Welfare and Education. The Emerging Heroes of the freedom movement were frequent visitors to his home as well as The Madras Seva Sadan, Mother institution of Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao School. It is not surprising that he, with the help of his wife Mrs. Seetha Rao, later founded the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao School in memory of the Founder of The Madras Seva Sadan, Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao.

After his schooling in the Good Shepherd Convent Madras, Mr. Rao went on to graduate with honours from Madras Loyola College with a B. A. Degree. He then went to England, where he obtained a degree in teaching.

He later joined the Madras Law College and obtained his B.L. degree. He practiced as lawyer and served in the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the High Court of Madras.

Mr. N. V. Rao was a great lover of Arts, Music and particularly Sports. He played cricket for the Loyola College Madras, as well as Tennis and other sports, in all of which he attained a degree of proficiency. On getting older, he became a knee golfer, and won many trophies in that sport. His love for sports is even now evident in the training that he had insisted on imparting to the students of the school in spite of the limited play field.

He, like his forebearers, was involved in several welfare, sports organisations and clubs such as,The Madras Seva Sadan, Rotary Club, Lions Club, the Freemasons, the Madras Gymkhana Club and The Madras Cricket Club.

He along with Mrs. N. Seetha Rao started the Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao School in June 1971, to commemorate the memory of the founder of The Madras Seva Sadan, the Late Justice, Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao. From the day the decision was taken to open the school, until his death, Mr. Rao was actively involved with Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao School. He built it up from its humble beginning with the hand full of students and semipucca class rooms, to the present prestigious and popular status it enjoys, in its pucca multi storied buildings.

For a short period of time, he even tried his hand at teaching and enjoyed the same. However, administrative duties and health issues, did not allow him to continue as the teacher for long.

These few lines hardly justify a commitment for a period of 21 years to the school. But Mr. Rao’s spirit will live on in the school he loved and nurtured and in all the pupils who have benefitted from his establishment and existence for the past decades.

Mrs. C. Prema Kumar

Awards & Accolades

• Award for outstanding services in the field of education on International Women’s Day on the 8 of March 2006 by Tamil Nadu Arya Vysya Mahila Sabha, Madras Unit.
• Award for outstanding contribution towards Education by Global Tamil Telugu People Foundation on Teachers Day, 5 September 2006.
• Vocational Excellence Award 2011 presented by the Rotary Club of Chennai Towers.
• Outstanding Woman Achiever Award presented by the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai.
• .‘Bharathi Award’ for Social Service presented by Hon’ble Mr. Justice S. Natarajan, a former Judge of the Supreme Court, on the occasion of the 131st Birth Anniversary of Mahakavi Bharathi on the 30 March 2013.
• Award for achievement in Social Work and Education presented by Vasavi Club affiliated to Vasavi Clubs International on the occasion of International Womens Day 2013.
• SHEROES AWARD 2014 in May 2014 for excellence in education and in particular her Inclusive Education policy. This Award has been instituted to recognise extraordinary women from various walks of life.
• .‘Women Achievers’ Award 2014 for outstanding women from Jaguar LandRover, VST Grandeur and RITZ Magazine for excellence in education.
• ICON award for education from Jeppiaar College of Engineering on 25thFebruary 2015.
• Best Philanthropic Edupreneur in the South Award on 25th April 2016, by The Education Post.

Other positions held

Honorary General Secretary

• The Madras Seva Sadan.

Correspondent

• The Madras Seva Sadan Industrial School, Chetpet.
• The Madras Seva Sadan Hr., Sec, School, Chetpet.
• The Madras Seva Sadan Hr., Sec, School, Tambaram.
• Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao Mat., Hr., Sec, School, Chetpet.
• Sir Mutha School (CBSE), Chetpet

Honorary Secretary

• The Christmas Fair Association (a 60 year old Association helping various charitable organizations).

Founder Committee Member

• Harrington Road Residents Association

President

• Soroptimist International Chennai - (a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Action)

Trustee

• Thatikonda Nancharamma Charities.
• Thatikonda Rajamannar Trust.
• Dewan Bahadur Thatikonda Namberumal Chetty Charity Trust.

Member

• National Association for the Blind.
• International Women’s Association.
• Soroptimist International Chennai - (a global voice for women through Awareness, Advocacy and Action).

About Mrs. C. Prema Kumar

Mrs. C. Prema Kumar, the grandniece of Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao and Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao and long-time Correspondent of the Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School in Chetpet, commanded respect wherever she went.

Known for her sharp business acumen, probably a result of her B. Com degree, she earned her Diploma in Montessori Teachers Training and dreamed of setting up a school that was child-centric over being academics-centric. Culminating in the formation of Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School.

For students, the school was a reflection of Mrs. Prema Kumar’s views and ideals. Images of Mrs. Prema Kumar wearing her characteristic red bindi and crisp cotton sarees are a vital part of every student’s memory- especially those who reminisced about her ability to remember them.What makes this even more special is her knack for not only remembering them but also what they were good at. This goes to show how much personal interest she took in each one of the students.

Apart from Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School, Mrs. Prema Kumar was the driving force behind The Madras Seva Sadan Schools in Chetpet and Tambaram from where she started her work in 1976.

Mrs. C. Prema Kumar was a great leader. She was the pillar of The Madras Seva Sadan, a visionary, a wonderful mentor and a perfectionist in all aspects of life.

Mrs. Prema Kumar was the pioneer of inclusive education in India. She worked tirelessly to mainstream children with physical and learning disabilities, and other special needs. To facilitate this, she started an Occupational Therapy Centre and a Learning Centre to cater to the needs of the special children.

She wanted to provide children with a positive environment and atmosphere where an all-round development was encouraged so that they would look forward to School. She never wanted the emphasis to be on fitting children into a mould but letting them come into their own.

She was fascinated by the scriptures, enjoyed travelling, and had visited numerous countries. She was also fond of the performing arts, reading, and sports.

She won five gold medals and one silver at the Tamil Nadu State Aquatic Association Fourth Masters’ Swimming Championship in 2014.

On 19th May 2017, she was reunited with her beloved Sir Mutha and Lady Andal in their Heavenly Abode. Although her journey on Earth had come to an end, her ideals and legacy continues to live on.

Dr. Sadayavel Kailasam

Dr. Sadayavel Kailasam is an accomplished orthopedic surgeon with a distinguished career marked by academic excellence and extensive contributions to the medical field. Graduating with First Class honors from Don Bosco Matriculation School in 1970, he embarked on his medical journey at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, completing M.B.B.S. in 1978 from Mysore University.

His commitment to medical education continued as he pursued postgraduate studies in orthopedics at Madras Medical College, earning both a Diploma and an MS in Orthopaedics. Dr. Sadayavel Kailasam commenced his orthopedic practice in 1983 and has been at the forefront of advancements in the field, specializing in arthroscopy and knee replacement.

Throughout his career, Dr. Sadayavel Kailasam has shared his expertise through numerous paper presentations, contributing valuable insights to orthopedic conferences. His commitment extends beyond the operating room, actively engaging in medical societies, serving as a panel doctor, and receiving prestigious awards.

Dedicated to sports medicine, he established a Sports Medicine Clinic and holds key positions in various aquatic associations, demonstrating his passion for both orthopedics and community service. Dr. Sadayavel Kailasam is a respected member of national and international medical associations, embodying excellence, leadership, and philanthropy in the medical community.

Mr. N. Jayachandran

Mr. N. Jayachandran is the Managing Director of the Nilakantan group of companies. An alumnus of the University of Michigan, he loves motor -racing and tennis. Former President of the Builders Association, Rotarian Club of Madras Central. Nilakantan group of companies has constructed several landmark structures across South India, notably station buildings of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and construction of harbour structures in Thoothukudi, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai ports. Mr. Jayachandran is also the Vice President of The Madras Seva Sadan, Chennai.

Mrs. Krithika Kumar Quintal

Mrs. Krithika Kumar Quintal, is the Honorary General Secretary of The Madras Seva Sadan- an institute to protect, teach and help women, children and people who have been abandoned and mistreated by society, which is in its 95th glorious year. Mrs. Quintal was born and educated in Chennai. An alumna of Ethiriaj college for women and Loyola institute of business administration, Mrs. Quintal enjoys reading literature and also excels in Finance Management.

Mrs. Quintal has worked with renowned companies such as Swarovski, British Airways, and for six years as a Senior Merchandiser at Silk Route Associates before making her foray into the world of Education. Mrs. Quintal’s journey with The Madras Seva Sadan started as an Administrator in the year 2004. After which she has held a number of esteemed positions within the Organisation, while being involved in the Social Welfare activities of the Sadan.

Mrs. Quintal believes in a holistic education and the freedom for a child to learn in a conducive environment, while maintaining one’s identity. Mrs. Quintal has been involved as an Educational Resource Person at Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School, since 2010. She has also been instrumental in the setting up the School Development Board for Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School and Sir Mutha School.

Following in the footsteps of her mother Mrs. C. Prema Kumar, Mrs. Quintal is always at the forefront of activities that promoted education, sports, and social welfare and from June 2017, Mrs. Quintal has held multiple respectable positions within the organisation, to mention a few:

Correspondent for

• The Madras Seva Sadan Higher Secondary School in Chetpet and Tambaram.
• Sir Mutha School.
• Lady Andal School -an IB MYP Candidate school.
• And the director of the Lady Andal House of Children.

Mrs. Quintal takes a keen interest in the welfare of the community. She plays an active role in making changes to our society. She serves the following organisations and committees such as:

• Member of the Soroptimist International.
• An Executive Committee member of the National Association for the Blind.
• Vice President of The Madras District Aquatic Association, to name a few.

As the Honorary General Secretary of The Madras Seva Sadan, Mrs. Quintal’s operose attention to detail is an emphasis of the vision of the Founders, To brighten the way for others, to serve with one's own hands, with one's whole heart and always with a smile.

Mrs. Tamara Ann Coelho

• Limra Awards- for centum results in the Board Examination.(2014-15 & 2016-17)
• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Leadership Award(2017).
• Teaching Excellence Award - Rotaract Club of Nazareth College. (2017)
• Teacher Excellence Award - Rotary Club of Ambattur (2017).

Prize and Certificates Won

The Madras Seva Sadan Higher Secondary School, Special Prize for scoring the Highest marks in English (April 1993) in the SSLC Examination.

The Vidyodaya Schools Society Award for securing the Highest total in the Higher Secondary Exam (April 1995)

The Stella Matutina College – Special Prize for Proficiency in Creative Writing (2000-2001)

Rev Sr Gerosa Endowment prize for academic Proficiency, Stella Matutina College of Education for the year 2001

The Uma Maheswari Endowment Prize for Special English for Stella Matutina College of Education for the year 2001

The A.L Mudaliar Endowment Prize (Teaching) University of Madras for the year 2001.

The Sarah Govindarajalu gold medal for the first rank in the B.Ed Degree Examination University of Madras for the year 2001

Extra - Curricular Activities

Worked as a Student Guide (to help freshers write good assignments) at the WRITING CENTRE of the Department of English Stella Maris College for three years (1997- 2000)

Was a member of the Sthree Swathanthira Women’s Cell (rendering service for the poor and the cause of women) for one year 2000-2001

Have participated in and won Elocution Competitions at the School level

International Programmes

Participated in the Principal's Conferences conducted by the Goethe Institut at Srilanka, Germany Malaysia and Phuket.

Helped in organising the Twinning Programme between Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School and Yio Chu Kang School, Singapore.

Faculty Advisor for the team (Lady Andal Venkatasubba Rao School) which participated in the Oxford International Model United Nations at Oxford in 2017.

Mr. N. Venkatnarain Rao

Mr. N. Venkatnarain Rao is an educationist with the experience of three decades in the management of educational institutions.

Mr. Rao is the grand nephew of Sir & Lady M. Venkatasubba Rao. Under his leadership and guidance the schools have recorded a rise in the educational scenario. He has fruitfully led the schools to increase in the number of students, with state of the art modern infrastructure, financial strength and reaching out to children with special needs.

Mr. Rao was instrumental in rebuilding Sir M. Venkatasubba Rao school at T. Nagar, upgrading the unrecognised Madras Seva Sadan Nursery & Primary School in Tambaram to The Sir & Lady M. Venkatasubba Rao Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tambaram and starting the Lady Andal Therapy & Learning Centre for special needs children in T. Nagar. He firmly believes in deep rooted ethos & values and in providing horizontal exposure and vertical expertise to the staff & students through education, for their empowerment in this rapidly growing society.

During his school days Mr. Rao was a track Athlete, Hockey, Football and Tennis player. Being a sportsman he gives lot of importance to Sports & Games. As a result many State, National and International level players have emerged from the schools. He started the Mr. N. V. Rao Memorial inter-school Football & Volleyball tournaments and Mrs.C.Prema Kumar Memorial inter-school Yogasana, girls Volley Ball & Junior athletic competitions. He is associated with KRISHU (Our Team Our Dream) Cricket Academy by Rohit Sharma and serves as Vice –President of the Chennai District Softball Association. The State & National Soft ball Associations have awarded and honoured him for his work and contribution in the field of sports.

Mr. Rao was a managing partner of The Firs Estate Coffee Plantation, Yercaud. He also served as Manager and Senior Manager of SONY Authorised Service Centre in Madras and Coimbatore.

The experience Mr. Rao brings to school is an inspiration to all who know him.

Mrs. Maria Rao

Mrs. Maria Rao worked with Indian Airlines as a cabin crew. She was part of a select crew to operate a V.I.P. flight on the Indian Presidential Aircraft TU – 124 to fly the King and Queen of Tonga from Madras to New Delhi (1970 – 1974). Prior to her experience in Indian Airlines, she handled assignments in leading MNCs and Indian companies.

After marrying Mr. N. Venkatnarain Rao (grandnephew of Sir & Lady M. Venkatasubba Rao) she helped in the running of the Firs estate & Coffee plantation,Yercaud (1974 to 1979). Between 1981 and 2004, she was involved in the running of the Sir M. Venkatasubba Rao Boys School hostel at T.Nagar.

Mrs. Rao has been a Member of the Governing Body since 2008. She is also involved in the running of Sir M. Venkatasubba Rao School, T. Nagar and the Sir & Lady M. Venkatasubba Rao School, Tambaram.

The Convent education has made her passionate about developing English fluency. Her love for plants has transformed the schools she works with, into greener and more sustainable environments. She motivates the Alumni to give back to their Alma Mater.

Mrs. Jyothi K. Sethupathi

Mrs. Jyothi is the granddaughter of late C.T. Alwar Chetty, who was one of the original signatories of the Memorandum Of Understanding of The Madras Seva Sadan in 1928. She was born and brought up in Madras and studied at Good Shepherd Convent School and Women's Christian College, Chennai.

Mrs. Sethupathi moved to the United States of America after her marriage and was an active member of her community there. She was a vocal speaker and introduced them to India and Indian culture. Mrs. Sethupathi and her husband were instrumental in the building of several Hindu temples in the United States of America.

After her husband's demise, Mrs. Sethupathi returned to Madras to care for her father, Mr. T. C. Krishna, who was a Governing Body member of The Madras Seva Sadan. Upon his retirement, Mrs. Sethupathi joined the board of The Madras Seva Sadan and continues his work.

Mrs. Sethupathi currently manages Shanthi Sadan, a unit of The Madras Seva Sadan. Shanthi Sadan is a senior care home for elderly ladies. Mrs. Sethupathi is also a member of the National Association for the Blind, Soroptimist International Chennai and The Duchess Club.

Mr. Sunil Shanker

Mr. Sunil Sudhakar Shanker was educated at Padma Seshadri Bhavan in Chennai. He later studied History in Loyola College and has a postgraduate degree in Ancient History and Archaeology from the University of Madras. He also graduated with a Masters in Finance at the Institute of Financial Management and Research and Law at Dr. Ambedkar Law College in Chennai. He is an advocate on the rolls of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and also solicitor on the rolls of the Law Society of England and Wales. Mr. Sunil Shanker is the Founder Consultant of the law firm 'ShankarS', specialising in Property and Business Law. He is also the proprietor of 'M.T. Rajen & Co'.

Mr. Sunil Shanker is a voracious reader who is interested in cooking, and a cognoscente in Historical Research. He is the Chairman of the Advisory Board and is a Governing Body Member of The Madras Seva Sadan. He is also a trustee of The Chennai Masonic Charitable Trust.

Mr. N. Nilakantan

Mr. N. Nilakantan is a Voice Over Professional, Emcee, Public Speaker, Corporate Trainer, Theatre Actor and Director with more than 30 years of experience in all. His portfolio includes voicing for advertisements, documentaries, corporate films and Elearning projects, among others. He has also lent his voice for many animation films and serials in both English and Hindi for firms such as Walt Disney, Pentamedia, Super Graphics & Audio and Chandamama. In addition, he has worked as a professional Emcee and show host for the last 30 years. He conducts training workshops for a variety of clients and is a sought after corporate trainer.

He developed the course curriculum for Voice Acting & Creative Writing for the Manipal Institute of Media & Entertainment.

Theatre being one of his passions, he has been involved with various theatre companies and as a director he has many successful productions to his credit.

Mr. Nilakantan is the promoter of DRAMACT - an entity to promote theatre, especially among children. The idea is to teach them the tenets of theatre through experiential workshops while in the process teaching them life skills as well. The ultimate objective is to get drama into the regular school curriculum.

In more recent times after having been invited onto the Governing body of the Madras Seva Sadan, he has taken over the management of all sporting engagements in all the schools of The Madras Seva Sadan. Since taking over, he has worked on improving the sports facilities in all the campuses.

Mr. Prithie Singh Rekhi

Mr. Rekhi, a Baccalaureate of Optometry from the Elite School of Optometry, has undertaken clinical training at Sankara Nethralaya and postgraduate training in Canada. He is a life member of the Indian Optometric Association and has held various academic positions, contributing to the field's growth. As a Regional Clinical Advisor for Special Olympics and Clinical Director for Opening Eyes, his impact extends globally.

In December 1991, Mr. Rekhi founded the Spectrum Eye Care Clinic. The clinic boasts state-of-the-art optometric equipment and procedures, ensuring top-notch services.

Giving back to the community, Mr. Rekhi's clinic extends free services to individuals facing moderate to severe challenges, including those with intellectual, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and autism spectrum disorders.

Mr. Rekhi's role extends beyond clinical care; he trains professionals, conducts camps, and contributes to the education of ophthalmologists and optometrists. With a focus on inclusive care, the clinic collaborates with organizations like the Spastics Society of India and the Down Syndrome Association of Tamil Nadu. Spectrum Eye Care actively participates in camps organized by Special Olympics Bharat and the Down's syndrome Federation of India, providing primary eye care to children in remote areas. Beyond his professional pursuits, Mr. Rekhi finds joy in yachting, music, and reading, embodying a holistic approach to life.

Mr. Calvin Quintal

Mr. Calvin Quintal is a skilled professional and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Annamalai University, Chennai. He holds a Diploma in Welding, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, showcasing his diverse educational background.

Mr. Quintal is an expert in start-up operations of new rigs. His expertise lies in preparing rig documentation, conducting marine-related tests, managing surveys, and implementing operational modifications. His familiarity with MAXIMO, AMOS, SAP software, Lostab, and Los-jack stability software underscores his technical prowess.

Throughout his career, Calvin has showcased his dedication and expertise in the oil and gas industry, with a solid foundation established during his tenure at SEDCO Schlumberger. Since then he has worked with esteemed clients such as Dubai Petroleum Company, Elf, Shell, Dolphin Energy, Qatar Petroleum, Aramco, Maersk Drilling, ONGC, and ADNOC.

Mr. Qunital's work history reflects his commitment to excellence and improvement making him an active contributor as a Member of the Government Body of The Madras Seva Sadan.