My Goal: To Support the Education of 100 Children!” – The Inspiring Amudha Murugesan
Amudha Murugesan from Chennai has over 27 years of
experience in the IT industry. She learned the traditional folk art of Villupattu
under Kalaimamani Subbu Arumugam and holds a black belt in the martial art of
Karate. Through her workplace and on a personal level, she has supported the
education of numerous underprivileged children. She’s also been actively
involved in social work, such as planting over 3,000 tree saplings.
Can you tell us about your education and family?
I’ve completed a BCS (Corporate Secretaryship), M. Com, MA in Political
Science, MBA in Operations Management, and a Diploma in Labour Law. I’ve also
done certified courses in computer programming languages.
My husband, Sureshbabu, also works in the IT sector. My son, Prasanna, is in
his second year of engineering, and my daughter, Pavithra, is studying in 12th
grade.
Tell us about your skills and the work you’re currently
doing.
I started working while I was still in school. I’ve worked in telecom and IT
for 28 years, and until six months ago, I was a director at a tech office. Over
the past year, I founded Mind Altitudes, through which I offer training,
counselling, career coaching, and business consulting. I’ve also published a
book called The Plus Factor, and work is ongoing to release its Tamil version.
Since I constantly work on upgrading my professional skills,
my career has always progressed well. Personally, I love writing stories,
poems, and articles—some of which have been published in newspapers and online
magazines. I also enjoy experimenting with cooking and trying out and creating
new dishes, and I have a deep interest and passion for painting!
How did the idea of supporting underprivileged students'
education come about? What kind of help do you provide?
That thought came from my own life — because I was once a poor student myself.
I always topped in academics, arts, and sports in school, so I studied through
scholarships. I had a deep interest in science, but due to financial issues, I
couldn’t pursue the science stream. Instead, I chose commerce and accounting.
Later, even college studies in that stream became unaffordable. So, I joined a
job and used that income to pursue regular classes at the University of Madras.
Later, my office supported my MBA and other higher studies.
That hard-earned education and the disappointments I faced pushed me to ensure
education becomes accessible for other underprivileged kids. I identify
orphaned and poor children and support them through school and college—right
until they get placed in a job. Over 30 of them have already completed their
education successfully and are working across fields like technology and
medicine. My minimum goal is to support the education of at least 100 children!
Besides helping with student education, what other kinds
of social service are you involved in?
I support medical treatments for the underprivileged, including heart
conditions and uterus-related treatments for women. I feed stray dogs and cats,
rescue injured animals from the streets, and provide them with medical care.
I’m also involved in tree planting — so far, I’ve planted over 3,000 saplings.
How did you learn about Villupattu and Karate? Do you
have plans to teach them for free to underprivileged students?
My school principal, Mrs. Subbulakshmi, believed not just in academics but in
nurturing the arts, too. She was the eldest daughter of the recently passed
Villupattu legend Kalaimamani Subbu Arumugam. That connection gave me
opportunities to perform Villupattu at school events, and later, I formally
trained under the poet for a year. I’ve also performed on Chennai radio and
television.
Karate is a self-defense art. My maternal grandfather, Aadhimoolam, was a
boxing trainer during his time. Maybe that’s where my interest in martial arts
came from. I trained up to Second Dan Black Belt in Karate and won prizes in
district-level championships. However, due to financial constraints, I couldn’t
pursue it further. Right now, with so much going on, I haven’t been able to
resume or teach these arts — but I continue to give underprivileged children
hope through education.
Tell us about the awards and honors you’ve received.
I’ve received several recognitions and honors at the workplace. But when it
comes to the social work I do in public spaces, I’ve never publicized any of
it. This interview is actually the first time I’m speaking about it. To help,
you don’t have to be a Tata or a Birla — even setting aside a handful of food
from your meal for a crow or a sparrow is an act of kindness. Sharing what you
have is called help. If even a few of us start thinking like this, that mindset
itself is the real reward.
What’s your ultimate goal or
plan when it comes to supporting children’s education?
I carry a huge dream in my heart that
every child should have the freedom to pursue the education they truly desire.
If a hundred children dream of becoming doctors, then we must create a hundred
seats for them. But today’s reality? Only twenty seats exist. We collect
entrance and exam fees from a thousand kids, filter them out, and give those
twenty a shot. What happens to the remaining eighty? We bury their dreams and
their potential under the weight of poverty. That system has to change.
We need to build world-class schools and colleges because
good education is the foundation of good humans. I don’t know if I alone can
achieve all of this. But what I do know is this — I will give everything I can
to support the dreams of hundreds of children. And I will make that
contribution.
Beyond this, I dream of a world where people awaken to the
rights of animals, too. Every life, whether human or not, has the right to live
with dignity. That awareness needs to rise. That’s my humble request!
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