Dr N Mahalingam

Last week I shared with our members about Fr Gabriel Beisser, the great benefactor of Divyodaya. Today I want to speak about another benefactor, Dr N Mahalingam. For Tamil people he needs no introduction. When Dr Vanavarayar, his son in law presented to us the photo of Dr NM, which we have displayed in the reception room I suggested to Fr Jose Paul to write his name under the photo. Jose Paul said, "It is not necessary. Everyone knows him.”

In 1983 there was a big demonstration in Coimbatore organized by Hindu Munnani in which they had presented NM as their patron. When I read about it in papers I thought we should make him interested in Divyodaya. In 1987 I invited him for a function. That was his first visit. In 1989 with a group of our members I visited him to request him to sponsor the meditation room. I showed him the plan of the building. He asked, how much it would cost. I told him, Rs.42,000. He asked the secretary to give 50,000. His name is written at the entrance of the meditation room.

In 1995 when I was honoured by Bharatiya Vidyabhavan with Kulapathi Munshi Award Fr Thomas Cheeran, director  organized a function at Divyodaya to honour me, for which Dr NM was the chief guest.

In 2012 when I had come from Germany for holidays Fr Kalliath was director. Dr NM invited a group of Divyodaya members for a dinner at Sakti Sugars to celebrate his Navathi. Vanavarayar also was present. When Dr NM left this world on October 2, 2014 with Fr Kalliath I visited his family at Pollachi Mahalingapuram to offer our condolences. He was a great Gandhian and philanthropist.

I consider our contact with Dr NM as the work of  Divine Providence. Otherwise who am I to get people like NM  to get interested in our mission! When Divyodaya remembers it’s Ruby Jubilee I thought it necessary to introduce him to our members.