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People Behind

Executive committee Members

Mr. Aravind Srinivasan

Dr.Aravind Srinivasan hails from the family of the great visionary Padmashree Dr.G.Venkatasamy who envisioned the Aravind Eye Care Unit, what it is today. An ophthalmologist by profession, his passion for management drove Dr.Aravind to do an MBA at the University of Mr. Aravind Srinivasan Michigan, Ann Arbor USA. He became an able administrator of the organization and brought about changes to the various facets of the organization that has grown into a network of eye hospitals, that also provides treatment at free costs or steeply subsidized costs. As a clinician, Dr.Aravind holds a record of a high volume surgeon performing over 2500 cataract surgeries in the year 2014-2015.

His personal skills as a leader include teaching, training & mentoring. He has been instrumental in encouraging innovations, the building of new projects and ensuring growth in service care; keeping up with the ‘Aravind Model’ of high volume, high quality, and affordable cost eye care to the developing nation. He is the first life member of INTACH Madurai chapter who later became an EC member and along with his wife Dr. Haripriya has supported the chapters’ activities greatly in many ways. Above all, his positive energy and moral support that he extends to each and every activity of INTACH are greatly appreciated.

Dr. Uma Kannan

Dr. Uma Kannan has a Ph.D., in Socio-Cultural anthropology from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India. She has post graduate degrees in Sociology and Psychology from the Madurai Kamaraj University and Madras University respectively.

Dr. Uma Kannan grew up in London and relocated to India in 1977.Being a committed and analytical researcher, she has several research publications to her credit. She devotes much of her time to researching and writing. She is an active educational administrator and is closely involved in several educational, social and charitable causes. She is Vice-President of Thiagarajar College Director of – Thiagarajar Group of Companies.

She is Founded Thiagarajar Crafts Foundation. She has been actively involved in various other forums such as Indian women network (IWN) where she was the first state chair women. Tourism arts and culture panel chair at CII in 2010, when she organized the Madurai Vizha and also shared its second edition in 2012. She has been the founder EC member in INTACH for 7 years when she too k up various programs in the Madurai chapter. Of them the Madurai Malli workshop that she had conducted are notable and have helped several flower vendors to improve their livelihood. She later took the responsibility of Convener from 2014 to 2017. She is also a writer having authored “ Madurai Malligai – Madurai and its jasmine – celebrations” and “ Radha Thiagarajan – Remembered ”.

Her gracious nature and ability to include everyone and maintain harmony in an organization such as INTACH are her great strengths. Apart from being a philanthropist, she is personally involving herself in various projects that cause upliftment of the underprivileged.

Dr. Uma Kannan

Dr. Uma Kannan has a Ph.D., in Socio-Cultural anthropology from Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India. She has post graduate degrees in Sociology and Psychology from the Madurai Kamaraj University and Madras University respectively.

Dr. Uma Kannan grew up in London and relocated to India in 1977.Being a committed and analytical researcher, she has several research publications to her credit. She devotes much of her time to researching and writing. She is an active educational administrator and is closely involved in several educational, social and charitable causes. She is Vice-President of Thiagarajar College Director of – Thiagarajar Group of Companies.

She is Founded Thiagarajar Crafts Foundation. She has been actively involved in various other forums such as Indian women network (IWN) where she was the first state chair women. Tourism arts and culture panel chair at CII in 2010, when she organized the Madurai Vizha and also shared its second edition in 2012. She has been the founder EC member in INTACH for 7 years when she too k up various programs in the Madurai chapter. Of them the Madurai Malli workshop that she had conducted are notable and have helped several flower vendors to improve their livelihood. She later took the responsibility of Convener from 2014 to 2017. She is also a writer having authored “ Madurai Malligai – Madurai and its jasmine – celebrations” and “ Radha Thiagarajan – Remembered ”.

Her gracious nature and ability to include everyone and maintain harmony in an organization such as INTACH are her great strengths. Apart from being a philanthropist, she is personally involving herself in various projects that cause upliftment of the underprivileged.

Mr.Arvind Kumar Sankar

Arvind Kumar Sankar Convener INTACH Madurai chapter comes from a family that has been instrumental in making history in nurturing cultural heritage. Having ascendants who played an important role in forming the Hindu religious and charitable endowment namely the HR&C., in conducting the first kumbabishekam at Shri Meenakshi Amman temple, in reinstalling the Swarna Ayyappan at Sabarimala, it is natural for Arvind to involve himself in forums connected to art and culture.

He was one of the persons who were mainly instrumental in forming the INTACH Madurai chapter. His friends from the Tanjore and Coimbatore chapters introduced him to INTACH and also helped him structure and form the Madurai chapter.

Being a painter, chronicler, instrumentalist, art critic and a choreographer makes Arvind a multifaceted person. He was the first President of the Chinmaya Yuvakendra in Madurai. He is the Chairperson of LAMPS trust and the managing trustee of Lalitha charities and is committed and determined to work towards bringing Madurai back to its past position as the seat of Art and culture.

Mrs. Valli Annamalai

Mrs.Valli Annamalai having hailed from one of the most affluent, industrial families of India surely proved her adaptability skills on settling down in Madurai after marriage which was a totally different environment to the 17 year old. She must thank her craft, skills, art and culture exposure and strong family values that made her shirk her past and build her own name and fame. With a grandmother and mother who were part of the guild of service and associated with Sevashram and the innumerable social organization were a natural flair with which she took to social work that has made her rise to the national Vice President level of the Indian Council Of Child Welfare ICCW.

Mrs.Valli Annamalai has attended conferences & seminars and presented several papers related to her social work, the world over. Her paper presentation at Catholics University Milan, Italy on ” good practices in India ” is one such notable presentation. She was not only a founder EC member of INTACH Madurai chapter but also actively involved in forming it with its various core groups.

She headed the Art, Culture & Community heritage vertical and organized an awareness workshop to showcase ‘Clay & its Iconic Status’. At present, the cleaning of the Thiruvapudaiyar temple tank and restoring the water body idea dominates her priorities. She was a Jaycee and is part of the Soroptimist international. Married to Shri .Rm.M.Annamalai a businessman, she is blessed with three children all well settled. With her five grandchildren, she truly is a “grand” mother.

Mrs. Valli Annamalai

Mrs.Valli Annamalai having hailed from one of the most affluent, industrial families of India surely proved her adaptability skills on settling down in Madurai after marriage which was a totally different environment to the 17 year old. She must thank her craft, skills, art and culture exposure and strong family values that made her shirk her past and build her own name and fame. With a grandmother and mother who were part of the guild of service and associated with Sevashram and the innumerable social organization were a natural flair with which she took to social work that has made her rise to the national Vice President level of the Indian Council Of Child Welfare ICCW.

Mrs.Valli Annamalai has attended conferences & seminars and presented several papers related to her social work, the world over. Her paper presentation at Catholics University Milan, Italy on ” good practices in India ” is one such notable presentation. She was not only a founder EC member of INTACH Madurai chapter but also actively involved in forming it with its various core groups.

She headed the Art, Culture & Community heritage vertical and organized an awareness workshop to showcase ‘Clay & its Iconic Status’. At present, the cleaning of the Thiruvapudaiyar temple tank and restoring the water body idea dominates her priorities. She was a Jaycee and is part of the Soroptimist international. Married to Shri .Rm.M.Annamalai a businessman, she is blessed with three children all well settled. With her five grandchildren, she truly is a “grand” mother.

Mr. Rajesh Kanan

Rajesh Kanna who has been part and parcel of our organisation since inception is one person who would be part of every activity of INTACH. Ten years of dedicated service expecting nothing in return.

Having been a treasurer and then a co-convenor, he has truly worked tirelessly for the Madurai Chapter and gained a lot of experience and confidence in doing so he has roped in a lot of his friends into INTACH, being in various other forums such as YES, Save to be saved, Friends of Heritage and Tamilnadu Soap manufactures Association.

He initiated several activities in INTACH like Heritage Treasure hunts, Heritage Home hunt, Thirairagangal & involved in conducting the INTACH annual event ‘Meendum’ – a series of events & projects that tried to unravel and reproduce the social, cultural & architectural treasures of Madurai in the forms of exhibits, skits and other cultural means by school kids.

He is a successful entrepreneur who has taken his 100 year old brand ‘Chellam Soap’ to great heights and is happily married to Vidya who is a pillar of support to him and actively participates in INTACH.

He was also majorly instrumental in bringing out the booklet ‘Rediscover Meenakshi temple’. His fond memories of INTACH are innumerable – Skywa;k, What is in a name, Brid watches to name a few. He will continue to be a part of the INTACH initiative in the future too.

Mr. M. Dhinagar Vel

M. Dhinagar Vel He graduate in Mechanical Engineering from PSG Tech Coimbatore. He is the Managing Director of Indian Foods Innovations Madurai Which houses The Baker’s Friend ( import of bakery machinery from Europe and Japan) and MD Community Kitchen which in turn houses Akkarai (retail sales of rusks, cookies and fresh items totally free from preservative and chemicals) and Thinnai (a highway restaurant to relax and recharge). He is past Chairman of CII Madurai and was also Co-Convener Madurai INTACH.

Mrs. Bhavani Vel

Bhavani Vel graduated from Stella Maris College Chennai. She is the director in M D Community Kitchen and is actively involved in the running of Thinnai – a highway restaurant to Relax and Recharge.

Mr. M. Dhinagar Vel

M. Dhinagar Vel He graduate in Mechanical Engineering from PSG Tech Coimbatore. He is the Managing Director of Indian Foods Innovations Madurai Which houses The Baker’s Friend ( import of bakery machinery from Europe and Japan) and MD Community Kitchen which in turn houses Akkarai (retail sales of rusks, cookies and fresh items totally free from preservative and chemicals) and Thinnai (a highway restaurant to relax and recharge). He is past Chairman of CII Madurai and was also Co-Convener Madurai Intach.

Mrs. Bhavani Vel

Bhavani Vel graduated from Stella Maris College Chennai. She is the director in M D Community Kitchen and is actively involved in the running of Thinnai – a highway restaurant to Relax and Recharge.

Mr. Karthik Manimozhian

Karthik Manimozhian is the present co-convenor of INTACH Madurai chapter. He is the grandson of the philanthropist Mr. V. K. Kalyanasundaram Chettiar. On the other side, his father is Mr. Manimozhian a Tamil Scholar who hails from a highly spiritually developed father of the various business that he pursues is managing the hotel “NEW COLLEGE HOUSE” that is a land mark in Madurai is whar he is passionate about. He has great knowledge f lesser-known facts of history and mythology in our temple town.

Mr. R. Haresh

Mr.R.Haresh, the member of INTACH Madurai’s executive committee who heads the natural heritage division in INTACH Madurai chapter had organised a meeting where there was a presentation of Waterbody revival and an awareness campaign on water conservation by Mrs. Vanitha Mohan managing trustee of Siruthuli and Mrs. Sujani Balu who is also a member of Siruthuli . They also introduced the Coimbatore based NGO (Siruthuli) and motivated the people of Madurai to follow its footsteps and assured them that they will share all the know-how and extend their full support to establish similar NGOs.

Mr. R. Haresh

Mr.R.Haresh, the member of Intach Madurai’s executive committee who heads the natural heritage division in INTACH Madurai chapter had organised a meeting where there was a presentation of Waterbody revival and an awareness campaign on water conservation by Mrs. Vanitha Mohan managing trustee of Siruthuli and Mrs. Sujani Balu who is also a member of Siruthuli . They also introduced the Coimbatore based NGO (Siruthuli) and motivated the people of Madurai to follow its footsteps and assured them that they will share all the know-how and extend their full support to establish similar NGOs.

Dr. G. Vasudevan

Dr.G.Vasudevan – Having hailed from one of the most prominent, traditional families of Madurai Dr.Vasu is truly the son of the soil. After a degree in chemical engineering in Madras University Dr.Vasu went to the U.S to do his M.S. at. John Hopkins University. He subsequently did his M.B.A at the University of Chicago and his doctorate in The University of Rochester. After working in America for sixteen years he came back to Madurai and is currently director of Fortune Pandiyan hotel. Dr.Vasudevan and Mrs. Poongothai Vasudevan are one of the most well-known faces in a lot of social forums. Travel Club, CII, INTACH, Cheshire Home, a home for disabled people, M.S.Chellamuthu trust and research organization, TamilNadu science forum, and temple city badminton club, and Rotary Club.

Lately, he has been involved in forming a tourism society for the state with all stakeholders. This founder Executive committee member of INTACH Madurai chapter was also an active Jaycee in the US. Past president of the toastmaster club in the US, past president of Rotary Club and continues to be an active Rotarian.

Dr. R. Venkatraman

Dr. Ramaswamy Venkatraman, fondly called as Dr. V, is known as the Pitamaha of INTACH Madurai chapter. One of the most remarkable historians that Madurai has today. Having been born in an affluent business family in Tuticorin, Dr.V followed his heart and took to teaching history that he continues to date.

He, along with an eminent archaeologist, has excavated more than 100 ancient sites. Some of the prominent discoveries include many Ancient Jain cave temples in & around Madurai, a Pallava sculpture in Mahabalipuram, the rock paintings in Kidaripatty, 8th century inscriptions of Koon Pandyan, the paintings in Alagarkoil and Perumal malai.

He is also known for connecting astronomy & iconography. He has published 8 books and 98 scholarly papers. He has more than 37 PHD students who have researched history and anthropology under him. His lectures to various organizations are uncountable. He explains stories of the mythology of each stucco in all the gopurams of the Meenakshi temple that will simply leave you stunned. At the age of 85, he still continues his research in Ancient Archaeology and Ancient Indian history.

An active founder member and resource person of INTACH, Dr.V also involves himself with CII,
Travel club and other NGOs. His positive energy, smiling face, simplicity & abundance knowledge attracts people of all ages to delve into the lost history of Madurai & understand it’s culture, lifestyle, traditions, art forms & heritage in a practical angle. A passionate historian, he is indeed a jewel on INTACH Madurai’s crown!

Dr. R. Venkatraman

Dr. Ramaswamy Venkatraman, fondly called as Dr. V, is known as the Pitamaha of Intach Madurai chapter. One of the most remarkable historians that Madurai has today. Having been born in an affluent business family in Tuticorin, Dr.V followed his heart and took to teaching history that he continues to date.

He, along with an eminent archaeologist, has excavated more than 100 ancient sites. Some of the prominent discoveries include many Ancient Jain cave temples in & around Madurai, a Pallava sculpture in Mahabalipuram, the rock paintings in Kidaripatty, 8th century inscriptions of Koon Pandyan, the paintings in Alagarkoil and Perumal malai.

He is also known for connecting astronomy & iconography. He has published 8 books and 98 scholarly papers. He has more than 37 PHD students who have researched history and anthropology under him. His lectures to various organizations are uncountable. He explains stories of the mythology of each stucco in all the gopurams of the Meenakshi temple that will simply leave you stunned. At the age of 85, he still continues his research in Ancient Archaeology and Ancient Indian history.

An active founder member and resource person of INTACH, Dr.V also involves himself with CII,
Travel club and other NGOs. His positive energy, smiling face, simplicity & abundance knowledge attracts people of all ages to delve into the lost history of Madurai & understand it’s culture, lifestyle, traditions, art forms & heritage in a practical angle. A passionate historian, he is indeed a jewel on INTACH Madurai’s crown!

Mr. Ganapathy

A leading Consulting Architect & Interior Designer, his firm GANAPATHY & ASSOCIATES has offices in Madurai & Chennai and is handling projects all over Tamilnadu and Bangalore. He did his full schooling at Vikaasa School, Madurai. He did his B. Arch & M. Arch from ANNA UNIVERSITY, Chennai. He won the Best outgoing student in his B. Arch batch at Anna University. He has also conducted professional photography workshops at Anna University during graduation.

Currently Design Chair of Department of Architecture, Kalasalingam deemed University. He has been associated with the Department of Architecture, Thiagaraja College of Engineering Department and several other architectural institutions in Tamilnadu, including his alma mater School of Architecture & Planning, Anna University, Chennai.

He was Chairman of the Madurai Center of the Indian Institute of Architects from the year 2002 to 2006. During his tenure, the center worked closely with the Corporation of Madurai on several projects/committees such as the ‘ Development works on the Vaigai riverfront’. ‘ Redesigning of the Railway overbridge at Ellis Nagar’, which received media coverage as well.

He received the certificate of appreciation for outstanding contribution during the year 2003, presented at the National convention of Indian Institute of Architects. He received the prestigious ‘Architect of the Year’ award for the year 2005 instituted by the Tamilnadu Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects in recognition of meritorious projects done the competition is open to all architects of Tamilnadu.

He is an acclaimed Vaasthu expert having attended several related workshops. He was awarded the Honourable Architect Award in February 2017 by Tamilnadu Chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects. He is a founder member of INTACH, Madurai. Travelling & Photography are some of his other interests.

Kadambavanam, Temple of Tamil traditions is a Prototype Tourism project conceived and developed by him and his wife Chitra is a model for Endogenous tourism, the first of its kind combining Eco, Rural, Spiritual, Cultural, Craft, and heritage tourism. Functioning since 2009, he is the driving force behind the Kadambavanam ethnic resort and cultural center. They are blessed with two sons Vasanth and Indirajith both of whom are Architects. Vasanth is married to Nandini Devi, a Software Engineer.

Mrs. Chitra Ganapathy

A cost accountant by profession and a first-generation entrepreneur by choice, she did her B.COM from Ethiraj College, Chennai and M. Com from Madras University. She did her graduation in Cost and Works Accountancy from the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India(ICWAI).

She is the Managing Director of Kadambavanam – Temple of Tamil Traditions, a concept tourism project showcasing Tamilnadu’s culture and heritage, comprising a Culture center and an Ethnic resort village. A cultural activist, articulating the different facets of Tamil culture such as language and literature, customs and traditions, values and ethics, arts and crafts, food and clothing, history and mythology, spiritual beliefs and rituals is her forts. The project has been the culmination of many of her multi various interests in the field of arts and culture. Tamil Value camps for school children are regularly conducted at Kadambavanam.

The project was awarded the ” The Best rural tourism project” award under ‘ Incredible India’ brand of the Ministry of Tourism (General Government) in April 2016. She facilitates as an HRD (Human Resource Development) faculty and is a much sought after resource person at Personality Development & career guidance programs in schools and colleges as well as Rotary, Jaycees and similar leadership training organizations. A permanent faculty of Centre for Enterprise Development (CED) of Madurai Kamaraj University which conducts ongoing EDP Programmes, she also serves on the Board of studies of several colleges.

She is a charter member and Executive Council member of INTACH. She is also a founder member of the Women Entrepreneur cell (WE) of the Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce. She has been an active member of Rotary International since 1995. She is a charter member and currently the President of Soroptimist Internationa, Madurai, an international organization for professional women engaged in offering motivated and meaningful projects to educate and empower the girl child.

She is an artist in her own right with an avid interest in classical dance and music of Tamilnadu. Having learned Bharathanatiyam for nearly 10 years. She is an accomplished singer in Carnatic music & holds a Diploma in ‘Thevaram’, a compilation of devotional hymns, conducted by the Tamil Isai Sangam, Madurai. Traveling and reading are some of her other interests. Her father Dr. Nambi Arooran is the grandson of the great Tamil scholar and Founder of is Tamil Movement Maraimalai Adigal. Her mother Dr. Sarada Nambi Arooran retired as Commissioner, Right to Information Act, and is a renowned Tamil Scholar.

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