Became an example by donating all the earnings of 35 years, know who is Palam Kalyanasundaram

Knews Desk– An ordinary librarian from Tamil Nadu won the hearts of the whole world with his extraordinary thinking and spirit of service. Today people call Palam Kalyanasundaram ‘India’s richest poor man’ because he has earned almost Rs. Rs 30 crore Donated for the education and better future of poor and orphan children. Surprisingly, he worked in hotels and laundries to meet his personal expenses, but never gave up his resolve to help the needy.

Palam Kalyanasundaram was born in the year 1940 in Melakarivelamkulam, a very backward village in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. At that time there were neither roads, nor electricity, nor schools nor facilities for daily needs in the village. His father died in his childhood, after which his mother raised him under difficult circumstances. Mother had taught her only one lesson, that whenever she gets an opportunity in life, she must help others. This learning became the basis of his entire life. Despite financial constraints, he did not leave studies. To go to school he had to walk about 20 kilometers every day. On the way, he also started taking other children of the village with him to school. When he came to know that many poor families could not even pay the fee of five rupees, he started arranging for the fees, books and clothes of those children since childhood. His journey of social service started from here.

Kalyanasundaram, who was talented in studies, after receiving education in literature and history, did Masters in Library Science and won a gold medal. After this he got the job of government librarian in a college in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. As soon as he received his first salary, he took a decision whose example is still cited today. He decided that his entire salary would be spent on needy children and social service work. This trend continued not just for one or two years but for 35 consecutive years. He also did not keep with himself the pension received after retirement and the awards received from India and abroad. Overall he donated about Rs 30 crore for social service. To earn his living, he kept working in hotels and laundries after his job. He believed that a person’s real income is not money, but people’s blessings and smiles.

Patriotism was also an important part of his personality. In 1962, during the India-China war, when the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru appealed to the citizens to help the country, Kalyanasundaram donated the gold chain around his neck without any hesitation. At that time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Kamaraj had openly appreciated his sacrifice and dedication. Palam Kalyanasundaram’s life gives the message that a person’s greatness is not determined by his bank balance, but by his deeds and spirit of service. Despite living with limited resources, he spread the light of hope in the lives of millions of people. His story is still an inspiration to the society and proves that true wealth lies in helping others and not in accumulating wealth.