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About me…               

R. Arul Kannan, B.Sc., M.S.W., D.Hon.,
S/o Mr. T. Retnaswamy,
No.7-46 B, Naduvoorkarai Road,
Mondaikadu P.O
Kanyakumari District,
TamilNadu.

I am residing in the above said address for the past 30 years.

My father pulavar Mr. T Retnaswamy, M.A., B.Ed, is a retired Tamil Pandit and running a Social Organization. My mother Mrs. R. Parvathi retired as Extension Officer in Social Welfare Department and now involving in social development activities.

I did my primary education in Mondaikadu Government primary school, high school education in Babuji Memorial Higher Secondary School, Manavalakurichi and my Higher Secondary education in Devasam Higher Secondary School, Mondaikadu. I completed my bachelor degree at Madras University, Chennai. Now I am doing my Second year Master degree in MSW at Annamalai University.

I started my social service in the year 2002. I joined AMK Social Service Society in 2002 and since from involving in rehabilitation works for the drug addicts. I used to impart Awareness on Drug Addiction to School & College Students, Observation Home & Central Jail at Palayamkottai.

When Tsunami rehabilitation activities were carried out in the district in 2004. I worked under the district collector in Indian Red Cross societies’ rehabilitation activities. As per the invitation of the office bearers of Indian Red Cross Society, I enrolled me as a Life  member of Indian Red Cross Society. From 2009, I am acting as the district Executive Committee member of the Indian Red Cross Society.

Besides, I have been an active member of various committees headed by the District Collector. To mention some, the member of Patients’ Welfare Society, Kanyakumari Medical College, Asaripallam and Padmanabapuram Government Hospital, from 2007 and 2009 respectively. I have been a founder member of District Health Society from 2007. Further, I am a member in District Atrocities Prevention Monitoring Committee from 2010, joint secretary of Friends For Nature Society from 2010 and volunteer of Plastic Prevention Forum from 2009 and providing advises and services.

Further, I am acting as the secretary of TamilNadu Federation of Voluntary Association, Kanyakumari District and the Organizer of ‘Cloth Bank’.

I am the secretary of Lions International, Neyyoor region, joint secretary of Nagercoil Citizen Welfare Council, Vice District Governor of Alliance International and member of Scout and Guides.

I have been a member of ‘Thiruvarul Peravai’, the forum which is working for religious harmony since 2007 and been the secretary of the Colachel wing of the forum and joint secretary of Kalkulam Taluk level of the forum since 2011 and working for promoting the wing of the forum at Town, union, panchayat   and school levels.

Further, by the invitation of the district administration, have participated in the preparatory planning meetings held during religious festivals under the chairmanship of the district collector and provided suggestions. To mention some of them – Vinayagar
Chathurthi planning meeting held on 22.08.2011, Masi Festival, Mandaikadu planning meeting held on 11.02.2011 and 25.02.2011, Meeting regarding regulating the usage of PA system in worship places held on 24.02.2011, District peace meeting held on 20.01.2010, Law and order planning meeting held on 03.02.2011 and peace meeting conducted by the RDO on 22.02.2012.

An unwanted religious issue arose during the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival on 19.09.2010 at Midalam, Udayamarthandam area area in Kanyakumari district. I accompanied the district collector and spent day and night along with him in bringing peace among the religious sects.

 I together with the secretary of Indian Red Cross Society visited the riot hit area and rescued the Parish Priest, who was being harassed by the coastal people. I telephoned the district collector and narrated the problem in the area and thereby he informed the Superintendent of Police. Otherwise, a major unwanted event would have been taken place. I personally narrated all the issues to the district collector who was camped at the Karungal police station on 20.09.2010.

There arose tension among two sects of religious community in Vilunthayambalam village in Kanyakumari district on 02.11.2010 on conducting a rally by religious school students. On the advice of the district collector a peace negotiation was held at the Puthkadai police station. I participated in this peace talk as a Hindu religious representative. The talk extended throughout the night from 08.00 pm to 03.30 am. The peace talk was a success. District collector, DIG, Tirunelveli, SP, Inspector of police, Puthukadai and religious representatives took part in this peace talk.

Tension arose in the hamlet Pallikulivilai village, near Attoor in Kanyakumari district when the followers of a Church and the nearby Hindu temple rose against each other as to conduct events on same date. The situation probably leads to religious riot if not intervened.  A peace talk was arranged by district collector, I represented in this peace talk. The talk continued up to 11.30 pm and settled amicably. Besides the district collector, Superintendent of police, DSP, RDO, representatives of “Thiruvarul Peravai” forum and religious leaders took part in this meeting. At the end of the meeting the two religious sects of people came close together, exchanged greetings and departed. A major religious conflict was thus prevented.

In Puthoor, a small village near Mandaikadu in Kanyakumari district when the Christians decided to construct a new church building by demolishing the existing old one, problem arose.  A peace meeting was organized by district collector.  I represented in this peace talk. This meeting was also a success and religious conflict was settled peacefully. District collector, SP, RDO and representatives of “Thiruvarul Peravai” forum took part in this peace talk.

I took active part in celebrating religious festivals like Ramzan, Christmas, Deepavali, Bakrid with the district administration in which all religious leaders participated.

I involved in relief activities and helped the people to get basic needs during the sea erosion in Kadiyapattinam and Muttom in Kanyakumari district where 18 houses were damaged, when 3 people died and 34 injured by lightning in Puthoor, in Kanyakumari district on 08.12.2010 when 1500 people affected by flood in Ezhudesam village in Kanyakumari district and when fire consumed the huts and belongings of the people of Mahadhanapuram and Vellamadam in Kanyakumari district.

Further I am a blood donor since 1998 and donated my bold 29 times. Further I am motivating others also for blood donation. By this initiatives till date more than 400 peoples have been benefited.

District administration has recognized my initiatives and district collector Mr.Rajendra Ratnoo.,I.A.S., given me “Award and certificate for Best Services” at the Republic Day ceremony in the year 2010. During the Republic Day ceremony on 2011 “Communal Harmony Award” and certificate was given to me by district collector Mr.Rajendra Ratnoo.,I.A.S.,. Another “Humanity award” for religious harmony was given to me at the Thiruvarul Peravai wing opening ceremony on 21.01.2011 where all religious leaders participated. This award was also given to me by the district collector Mr.Rajendra Ratnoo.,I.A.S.,. On 15.01.2012 district collector Mrs. Madhumathi I.A.S., conferred me “Humanitarian Award” for my collaboration and involvement with various service forums.

I was awarded “Vallalar Award” in the year 2010 and “Vallalar Special Award” in 2011 at Vallalar Festival days for my religious harmony initiatives.

The Journalist Forum meeting Besides, I have won Best Service Provider awards and felicitations from Government officials, people’s representatives and elders.

To mention one, the ‘Award for Best Social Worker in 2011’ conferred to me by Hon’ble Minister  K.T. Patchaimal, Minister for Forestry, Government of Tamil Nadu at the presence of Mr. Nanjil Murugesan, MLA and Swami Padmendra.

At the meeting organized to acknowledge the services of social activists in southern district I was awarded the “Best Social Thinker Award” on 17.12.2011 by Tirunelveli Corporation Mayor Mrs.Vijila Sathyanandh.

Similarly I won the State Level Award for “Best Social Service in TamilNadu” from the hands of Mrs.Jeya, Mayor of Trichy Corporation on 25.12.2011.

I always try to expose my secularism in my activities. I practiced it in my house warming ceremony also. For this I invited leaders of all religions. All of them appreciated me and said all should develop the habit of respecting other religions so as to promote religious harmony in the district.

I have been actively involving in promoting religious harmony in the district. Hence I decided to conduct my marriage also as a means to further insist religious tolerance among the people. My marriage was held on 16.09.2011. The marriage was blessed by Poojitha Guru Balaprajabathi, leader of Iyya Vazhi       (a sect of the Hindu community) Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kottar and Haji. Mr. M.Ahmed Khan, President, Islamic Cultural Kalagam. All of them appreciated me and said similar events should be replicated by others also so as to promote religious harmony in the district. More than 5000 seedlings were distributed to the guests as a means to promote ecology.

President of India His Excellency Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Governor of TamilNadu His Excellency Dr. K. Rosaiah., and Mr. Munir Khoda, I.A.S., State Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and Mr.Shyam Sundar, I.P.S, Director General of Police has also appreciated my services when they visited Kanyakumari district.

I am proud to say that, International Open University awarded  me “Doctor of Honors” for social work in Malaysia, 18 th June 2012.