VIT recognises relief efforts in flood-hit Kerala

Thanima '18, the annual cultural event to mark Onam festival was recently held at Vellore Institute of Technology. The festival was inaugurated by Malayalam actor Amit Chakkalakkal while Dr G Viswanathan, Founder, and Chancellor of VIT, handed over prizes to those who had extended help in all forms to the Kerala flood victims.

Thanima is held at VIT and organised by students and faculty hailing from Kerala. The recent Kerala floods had caused immense destruction to the State and people from all over the world had contributed for relief and rehabilitation. Students, parents, staff and the management had mobilised a relief amount Rs 1 crore, which was personally handed over to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Dr Viswanathan. In addition, with help from philanthropists in Vellore, students mobilised Rs 20 lakh worth of clothes, medicines, and stationery and this was sent in a truck to Kerala. This year's Thanima was held as an event to express gratitude to the people who had contributed to the flood relief.

Speaking at the function held at Anna Auditorium, Dr Viswanathan said that Thanima was being staged this year as an event to express gratitude to all those who had contributed to the relief and rehabilitation following the floods in Kerala. He said that he felt immensely happy that Thanima was conducted by students from Kerala, 1,500 of whom were studying here and 160 faculties, who taught at VIT. Thanima was an event in which not just people from Kerala took part, but students from faculty from all over India took part with great interest.

Chakkalakkal, who inaugurated the event by lighting a traditional lamp, said that it gave him immense happiness to take part in the cultural festival. After completing his school he went to Bengaluru to study engineering. He said that he had completed his engineering studies eight years ago and it was struggling to succeed in life that had brought him as chief guest at the function in VIT now. He further extolled students to dream and struggle in order to fulfill it. Besides Malayalam writer Pushpa Kurup, who was the guest of honour, Director of Students Welfare Amit Mahendrakar, and professors Naiji, Jagadeesh Kumar also marked their presence at the occasion. Students presented kummi dance, drama, and other cultural programmes, followed by a vote of thanks by student coordinators Sachin and Malavika.