YOUNG ACHIEVER 2012 AWARD

I’m extremely happy & honored to receive the Young Achiever 2012 Special Mention Award instituted by Brigade Group, in association with Rotary Bangalore Midtown.

Here are the details:

Varun Agarwal

is Young Achiever 2012.

Vijayalakshmi and Adil Arif

receive special awards. 

The results of the Brigade Group Rotary Bangalore Midtown Young Achiever 2012 were announced at the awards’ function held at the Sheraton Bangalore Hotel

on 13 January 2013. Sugata Srinivasaraju, editor, Vijaya Karnataka, was the chief guest, and presented the Young Achiever 2012 trophy and citation to Varun

Agarwal, author-entrepreneur and a multifaceted achiever.

M. R. Jaishankar, CMD, Brigade Group, presented the Young Achiever a cheque for Rs 1,00,000. Special mention awards, with a citation and cash prize, were

also presented to Adil Arif, Animal rescue and welfare activist, and to V. Vijayalakshmi, a visually challenged musician and online teacher.

Link:

http://www.youngachiever.in/index.htm

My profile as in the Award citation:

V. Vijayalakshmi

Vijayalakshmi, or Viji, as she is known to her family and friends, is visually challenged. But Viji is no ordinary girl - as borne out by her remarkable

achievements and her unyielding spirit.

From the outset, Viji was determined to take on the challenges offered by society and its systems, without seeking any concessions. In the face of apprehension

and skepticism of most people, she studied at a regular mainstream school. When Viji was in the 8th standard, a visitor to her school expressed her shocked

disbelief and doubts as to how a sightless girl could cope in such a setting. Viji stood first for the school in the 10th standard examination. Reinforcing

Viji's strength and resolve was her family. Her mother gave up her teaching career to be able to provide all-round assistance to her daughter. This included

reading out texts and assignments almost daily.

Viji has secured a Master's degree in English Literature and has done the Kovida exam in Sanskrit. To be able to face all eventualities in her career, she

has done a course in medical transcription and in MS Office. She works on her computer independently by using JAWS, a screen-reading software.

Coming from a musical family, and receiving motivation from her mother, Viji started learning Carnatic music at the age of twelve. She is seriously pursuing

her musical interests by receiving lessons at an advanced level from a learned guru. She has also obtained a Master's degree in Carnatic music.

Thus qualified and equipped, Viji is teaching Carnatic music to her NRI students, who presently number fifteen, through the internet. She wakes up at 4

am every day and practices till 5 am. From 5 am to 8 pm, and from 6 pm to 8 pm, she teaches students across the world using video applications on the internet.

Her practice and knowledge of Carnatic music, and experience of using the internet to teach music, is culminating in Viji soon becoming Dr V. Vijayalakshmi.

For, she is currently doing a PhD, with her thesis examining the use of technology in the spreading of Carnatic classical music.

With her unquenchable curiosity and all-round interests, Viji has won several awards and certificates in quiz contests and performing arts.

In her submission to our Young Achiever programme, Viji has included a statement written of her, which sums her up:

"Vijayalakshmi is B Positive in her blood group, as also in her attitude. Despite her visual deformity, she is ever smiling and never worrying. Her only

mantra is 'what next' and working hard."

For demonstrating that whether one may or may not have sight, one must have vision; and in recognition of her inspiring example of great spirit, perseverance

and hard work, we are honoured to present V. Vijayalakshmi with a special award of Brigade Group Rotary Bangalore Midtown Young Achiever Award 2012. 

This profile & profiles of other Achievers of 2012 can be found at:

http://www.youngachiever.in/winners_profile2012.htm

All Glories to God!