రమ్యమైన రమణీ The Beautiful Ramani

Transcript of Personal Felicitation  by Dr.Suguna Kannan

Nearly twenty years ago, when a lecturer retired, I cannot recollect who it was now but I vividly remember that we had all gathered in G6, Ms Ramani Dhanraj delivered the Felicitation address as she always did since she was a talented Wordsmith and poetess. Afterwards, we were having lunch and teasing each other about what she would write for each one of us when we retire. At that time, I remember her saying, “Who will write when I retire?” I promised her then that I would come back to talk on the occasion though I do not have her skills of language or poetry. Unfortunately, I am unable to do it personally but hope this message will be read out to express the depth of my feelings for her and her service to the College. 

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.”
― Pearl S. Buck

Who can be more beautiful than Ramani, who served the College and all the stakeholders with a whole heart, filled with joy and a free mind? Her parents were indeed uncannily foresighted…. for what name will suit her better than Ramani meaning “beautiful”.

రమైయమైన రమణి

రమ్యం తన మట్టాలు

రమ్యం తన నడవడిక

రమ్యం తన నవ్వు

రమ్యం తన స్నేహభావము

రమ్యం తన ఔదార్యము

రమ్యం తన సంగీతం

రమ్యం తన కళాశాలకు అంకితభావం

మొత్తంమీద రమణి రమైయమైన ఒక సృష్టి

రమైయమైన రమణి!

 I call her ‘Rum” since she was and is a truly exhilarating person to be around. When I

think of Ms Ramani Dhanaraj, there are five aspects of her which make her special to me.

• ·         She has not lost connect with the child in her so you find her bubbly, full of enthusiasm,  enjoying every experience that life throws at her whether it be delivering a lecture to an august gathering or playing with a colleague’s children or grandchildren. She is very comfortable with everyone no matter what their age or status, what language they speak, whether they are conservative or modern, and equally at ease with all topics under the sun. Her peals of laughter are so infectious and irresistible that even the grumpiest individual who comes in contact with her cannot remain grumpy for long. Those of you, who have seen the movie Sound of Music, will agree with me that she is exactly like Maria portrayed by the incomparable Julie Andrews “How do you find a word that means Ramani? A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the-wisp! A clown!.”  Wherever she goes, she makes a friend who will never forget her and who will be ever willing to oblige her. She has used this trait to help the College on several occasions.
• ·         She hails from a devout Catholic family and she is very dedicated to the church. She is truly Christian in her behaviour and personality but at the same time, she is very secular since she respects other religions. Unlike many Christian friends, I have and I have many, she makes it a point to visit temples wherever she travels with the same devotion as when visiting churches.  Being trained in Carnatic music, she sings Thyagaraja and other kritis or keertanas with the same devotion that she exhibits while singing hymns or participating in choir music.

·                       Her commitment to College is total and without limits. To her, College was a second home. Her devotion and dedication to students were unrivalled. I know of many students for whom she was an emotional mother. She gave 100% support to her little brood of Office Management girls worked for them without reserve but all the students of the College were hers too and she would never hesitate to discipline them or defend them as the situation may require.

       Her relation with the management was very special since she was a Catholic and she was skilful and talented. She has worked with three Principals, starting with Sr. Alice Marie. She drove every one of them up the tree with her proficiency as well as her procrastination. I particularly remember them tearing up their hair and going up like a volcano because she had not submitted a report and beaming the next moment, happy and satisfied with the perfectly perfect report that she had submitted. She was extremely knowledgeable, computer savvy, a wizard with words and language but slow as a snail until the mood hit her and then what she produced was out of this World. She exasperated them but her expertise and public relation skills were invaluable to the College.

         She was a wonderful teammate and extended her cooperation to all of St. Joseph’s family be it members of the Faculty or Office staff or supporting staff.

• ·         As a friend, she was par excellent. No one who goes to her for help, returns empty-handed, whether it be her students, her colleagues or the Bosses. 

           Thiruvalluvar ‘s quote can be used to describe her role as a friend. He said
                    

                     ” udukkai izhandhavan kaipoala aangae,
                       idukkan kalaivadhaam natpu”                                         meaning
           A friend comes to rescue at the right time(without being asked) just as a person’s                hand reflexively comes to the rescue of the person whose  dress is falling off his/her              body, 

Many may recall Ms Ramani Dhanaraj helping us even without us asking for her help. She respected family relationships and would unfailingly address elders by the use of terms like Anna, Mama, Akka and so on.

•  I used to and still do envy her long plait and the way she was always impeccably dressed. As all of you know, dressing well has never been my strength. I have always been self-conscious about my complexion, my fatness etc so never bothered. Ms Ramani Dhanaraj on the other hand never let her complexion or her thinness inhibit her.  She always dressed to the T as they say ……I think it was my inadequacy that used to make me ask her to tone down her dressing.

I can go on and on about this lovely girl, who was the life and spirit of SJCW as no one else could be but I will conclude by using the words of Amy Tenney,

"The world needs strong women,

  who will lift and build others,

  who will love and be loved.

  who live bravely, both tender and fierce.

  Women of indomitable will."

Ms Ramani Dhanaraj is one such! I wish her all the contentment and happiness, she deserves, as she starts out on the next phase of her life, continuing to serve the Society in her impeccable style.