Enduring bonds with Vivekananda College

For 14 years, alumni from the Chemistry department of the Vivekananda College in Chennai have been setting aside their time and resources for deserving students. They sponsor academically bright students with scholarships

Since 2017, V. S. Panchatsharam (now aged 70) has been maintaining a uncompromising schedule every weekend. On weekend mornings, through a long-distance call from the United States, the retired agro chemical scientist motivates young beneficiaries of VIVEKCHEM Trust (read “Vivekananda Chemistry”). The one-on-one call would cover everything from studies to challenges faced by the beneficiary at home and job opportunities after college.

VIVEKCHEM was started in 2010 by the 1974 batch of B.Sc (Chemistry) of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College in Mylapore to encourage students from an underprivileged background to pursue higher studies in Chemistry by funding their education. Eight students from the college were the first beneficiaries of this scholarship programme. Since then this social initiative has grown with Chemistry students from other batches (1960 to 2000) of the college also contributing their resources to keep it going strong.

Today, they support 62 students pursuing under graduation and post graduation in Chemistry from 10 colleges in and around the city including Madras Christian College, Guru Nanak College, Pachaiyappa’s College and Rajeswari Vedachalam Government Arts College (which is in Chengalpattu).

The scholarship initiative is inspired by late N. Venkatasubramanian, professor NVS as he is known, former principal and head of department of Chemistry, who encouraged a long list of students to take up research.

Follow-up calls

The motivation call is an extension of the scholarship programme that Panchatsharam takes keen interest in.

“I know the pain and the challenge of not getting support. I am the eldest of eight siblings and come from a remote village where my parents struggled to give me good education,” says Panchatsharam. “Prof. NVS is our nucleus, I would not have pursued masters if he did not convince my parents, so the follow-up calls to our beneficiaries is to instil confidence in them and know this group will be there for them,” says Panchatsharam who did his doctorate at Vivekananda College.