Family and friends of Sankara Nethralaya’s first Honorary Secretary & Treasurer Sri VD Swami reminisced with admiration the life and times of the businessman and philanthropist at a function on December 25 to dedicate the auditorium at Sankara Nethralaya in memory of Sri VD Swami in his birth centenary year.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Chairman Emeritus Dr. SS Badrinath, recalled the “tremendous support” received from Sri VD Swami in setting up the Medical Research Foundation and the pivotal role he played in instituting welfare schemes for the hospital’s employees. “He played a very important role in shaping me and moulding me for who I am today,” Dr. Badrinath said.
Chief Guest MS Swaminathan, Chairman, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, lauded Sri VD Swami’s unstinting support to health care and research institutions. He urged the gathering to emulate Sri VD Swami’s principles of “sharing happiness and building institutions of national importance.”
Speaking on the occasion, Sanmar Group Chairman, Mr. N. Sankar, said that Sri VD Swami had been a great source of inspiration to many individuals and organisations. The ‘Bat against Blindness’ initiative was announced by Mr. K. Srikanth, Chairman, Selection Committee, Board of Control for Cricket in India. The bat, which has been signed by members of the Indian cricket team, including cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, skipper MS Dhoni, Gautham Gambhir and others, will be auctioned and proceeds from it will be utilized for Sankara Nethralaya’s community services.
Others who recalled personal anecdotes and Sri VD Swami’s contributions were his son, actor, Arvind Swami; VD Swami & Co Director, Mr. Vijay Balaji, former BHEL Chairman Mr. SVS Raghavan and Dr. Tarun Sharma, Director, Fund-raising, Sankara Nethralaya.
V.D. Swami’s contributions to noble causes recalled
The Hindu, December 26, 2010