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ORGANISATION>Founders

   
Dr. T.S. Soundram 'Amma' 






  
Dr. G. Ramachandran 'Mama'






























































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Dr. Soundram was born Aug 18th, 1904 to the hard working and legendary Industrialist T.V. Sundaram Iyengar and his wife Lakshmi Ammaiyar. A bright, beautiful and courageous child, from her childhood days, she was noticed for her outgoing nature to help lesser privileged people.

Married in 1918 to Soundararajan (who was 16 then), at a tender age of 12 she was a devout housewife who always was ready for service. Soundararajan studied to become a medical doctor, and during his extensive work amongst the victims of plague in Madurai in 1925, himself became a victim, rendered Soundram a widow at a young age. On his death bed, he requested her to continue her care for the lesser privileged, to study and become a doctor, to re-marry and not let the social norms or the blind customs reduce her to the life of an oppressed widow.

Going back to school for a young widow was un-heard of during those days, yet Soundram did just that, her parents approval secured through the encouraging words of the freedom fighter Subramanian Siva. Later, in 1930, applying for a place in the famous Lady Hardinge college in Delhi, she continued to pursue the vision of her late husband in getting a medical degree. It was during her college days in Delhi that she got introduced to the freedom struggle movement through a co-student Susheela Nayyar, who went on to become the personal medical aide of Gandhiji and establish the famous Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Sewagram, took her to congress meetings and later to meet with Gandhiji. Young Soundram got completely engrossed in the freedom struggle, but, never gave up her focus in medicine and passed out with flying colours in 1936.

During her days in Delhi also, she got acquainted with the young Ramachandran, who was active in the harijan movement initiated by Gandhiji. He had got his education in the famous Shantiniketan school of Rabindranath Tagore early on and headed many freedom struggle activites in the Travancore presidency. Their friendship was bonded in the mutual concern for the less privileged and the need to serve the deprived and oppressed class.

Defying her parents wishes, Soundram married Ramachandran with the blessings of Gandhiji himself on 7th November 1940. The marriage was sanctified with a 'mangal sutra' that was spun and dipped in turmeric by Gandhiji himself. As a wedding gift, he gave Dr.Ramachandran a dhoti made of a yarn that he had spun and to Dr. Soundram a saree made of yarn spun by Kasturba. On their return, Dr. Soundram set up her own medical practice in Madras and Ramachandran became the editor of the Indian Express newspaper in Madras.

Later in 1942, they both were to move to Tiruvananthapuram, where Dr. Soundram started the 'Shanti Clinic' in a place called Thaikkadu. Their service to the community was appreciated by all. In August 1942, Gandhiji announced the 'Quit India' movement, and Ramachandran spearheaded the movement in Tiruvananthapuram along with many leaders and was arrested and jailed. Soundram, tirelessly worked underground to ensure that the public unrest was maintained and the Colonial Masters put on guard. Investigating the continuing unrest in the area, the administration realised the role of Soundram and she was banished from the jurisdiction of the Thiruvananthapuram samasthanam and escorted to the Tamilnadu border. Soundram rushed to Chennai where she continued her work in not just the protest movement, but, also in supporting the families of many freedom fighters who were jailed during the struggle.

It was in 1946-47 that the efforts towards setting up of a rural development centre that will provide an integral approach to rural development was initated. Read the complete story: The Beginning of Gandhigram.

In 1952, due to the compulsion of the local villagers from in and around Gandhigram and Congress Party, Dr. Soundram decided to contest the Assembly elections from Athoor constituency near Dindigul. Needless to say, she won the elections and the subsequent election also in 1957 from Vedasanthoor. During her tenure in the State Assembly she played an active role in not merely women welfare, education and health areas which were of interest to her, but also in the overall industrial development of the state. She also ensured that adequate importance was given to the conservation of natural resources while planning industrialisation. Of course, her thrust was on the village industries and ensuring that all encouragement was given to its development and sustainablity.

The 1962 Parliamentary elections saw Dr. Soundram being requested by the Congress party to contest from the Dindigul constituency. With her victory being a foregone conclusion, most people wondered what was in store for her next. The Prime Minister elect, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, requested Soundram to join his cabinet as a Deputy Minister of Education. With her long time friend, Susheela Nayyar also in the cabinet as Health minister, it was re-living their college days for the close friends. It was during her tenure that primary education was made free all over India. Under her tenure too, women education got a big thrust. Voluntary agencies working in the area of women's education were given encouragement and she allocated funds for such institutions. She strongly felt that the youth should be involved in voluntary service for the development of the nation, hence, promoted the National Service Scheme (NSS), which to this day is rendering remarkable service to the country and brings in more people into social service.

Her passion for doing things with her hands extended even during her ministerial days, she would constantly be accompanied by needles and wool. During travel, meetings and even in the Parliament, she would continue her hand work while listening to others. Much of this was sent to the jawans in the border and their children in the 1962 Ind-China war.

Her tireless collection campaign of National Defence Fund during the war, was much appreciated by all including Prime Minister, Nehru. Pandit Nehru visited Gandhigram in 1964 few months before his demise and spoke highly of the work of the Gandhigram and the ideals of Gandhiji.

Back in Gandhigram since the 60s, Dr. Soundram continued to direct her energies in making Gandhigram an institution that will respond to the needs of the deprived and ignored people everywhere. She would never tire in following up with different units, enquiring about their work, the welfare of the staff, their children and the facilities, when she fell ill, she would continue through phone and follow-up. She continued her action for the people, through her work even when she could not move around freely and was reduced to movement only on a wheel chair. Ever courageous, she would talk freely about preparing for her 'departure'. Dr. Soundram passed away on 21st October 1984. As per her instructions, her eyes were donated to give vision to a blind person.