Freedom Lecture

Nallor Vattam is a network of volunteers who have responded to the needs of their immediate society through various initiatives. An auto driver in Madurai saves Rs. 10/- per day to manage a tuition centre and has been instrumental in providing education for poor children in his neighbourhood; a professional who quit his job to promote feeding the poor and needy through "anna dhanam", and today manages to feed 2000 people everyday all by garnering voluntary contribution - there are 350 such people today across Tamilnadu as part of Nallor Vattam. They probably represent an age old calling of Indian society to participate, give voluntarily, and placing the needs of the society above their own. Such people from all walks of life represent an aspiration to change, assert, assert the spirit of giving. This year on the eve of the Independence Day, we celebrate this spirit of volunteerism practiced by millions in this country as an expression of freedom.

J. Prabhakaran, an artist by profession, has been coordinating the efforts of Nallor Vattam for a few years now. This silent network avoids media attention and also operates in a unique manner. As the Coordinator, J.P, as he is called, visits each one of the network members and their families, and documents them and their work personally. He has been on a tour across Tamilnadu in the past year meeting and interacting with many such nallor (good people) and consolidating the circle of the Good (Nallor Vattam). J.P will share, as part of the fourth Samanvaya Freedom Lecture, his experience and insights in interacting with such ordinary people managing extraordinary initiatives.