Meet R. Vijayalakshmi, Director of Samruthaa Vidyashram, a school for children with special needs. She was born in Chennai to Viswanathan a civil engineer who was the MD of Chithram and Co, and Maduram who was the chairperson of Maduram Construction Company.
She did her schooling in Vidyodaya and followed it up with a degree in Commerce at Meenakshi college. She got married to Rangapathy and had two children. After taking a sabbatical to raise her son and daughter, she completed her M.Com, M.A. in Psychology and an M Phil too. Though she enrolled in PhD, she couldn’t complete it due to paucity of time.
Vijayalakshmi started her career by taking care of children with disabilities at Andhra Mahila Sabha. The idea to start a school of her own was mooted when she found some parents from Vidya Mandir (the school in which her son studied), very upset as their children had been detained as they were not up to the mark in studies. Neither were the children interested in repeating the class nor was the school interested in retaining these students.
This is how Samruthaa Vidyashram was born. She started taking in students who were detained, children of maids and from the lower strata of society, drop outs, children with disabilities and slow learners, train them and send them for the Class X and XII Board examinations as private candidates. She started with just 6 children at her home. Even students who were into sports and could not attend regular classes have passed out from Samruthaa Vidyashram.
There is a dedicated team of 5 teachers who are trained to handle the students with patience. More than 5000 children have successfully completed XII Board exams here and many of them are doing exceptionally well in life. Some of them are occupying top posts in organizations while some others have started their own business ventures both in India and abroad.
The school follows NIOS syllabus-National Institute of Open Schooling. It currently functions at Karpagam Avenue in R.A. Puram. According to Vijayalakshmi, 28 students took the examinations for this academic year. Fifteen students appeared for Class XII and thirteen students appeared for Class X Board examinations. The school timings are from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm, Mondays to Fridays. Regular monthly tests, quarterly and half yearly exams are conducted. There are PTA meetings conducted thrice a year.
Though Samruthaa Vidyashram was started in 2006, it used to function as a private tuition centre and later it became a full fledged institution. Vijayalakshmi is happy that she has made a difference in the lives of many students.
A true philanthropist, Vijayalakshmi is the President of Inner Wheel Club of Madras Central where lot of work is done to help the lower strata of society.
She donates a sum of money every month to a woman named Roja who locates unidentified dead bodies and cremates them after getting permission from the concerned authorities.
Vijayalakshmi also donates essential supplies every month to 10 lactating mothers. She provides them with Horlicks, dates, diapers, nappies and baby clothes. She reaches out to these mothers at Primary Health Centres, Gosha Hospital or the Government Children Hospital in Egmore.
Vijayalakshmi has a close knit family. Her husband Rangapathy is into real estate business. Her son Ramaprasad is settled in Canada and is the Vice President of a company in Toronto while her daughter-in-law- Dr. Mahalakshmi works as a Professor in Toronto University. They are blessed with a son who studies in 8th grade. Her pretty daughter Gayathri is married to Dr. Ajayalesh. They have two cute daughters who study in Adyar Theosophical Academy
Vijayalakshmi is a travel enthusiast who loves to trot around the globe. She has travelled throughout India and visited around 30 countries so far. She usually travels with a different group of friends each time mostly from the Rotary Club or Duchess Club. According to her, every country has something unique and she likes to explore everything in detail.
She also loves to read books. She is part of a Ladies Club which meets once in a month. Each member takes a book and gives their reviews on it. They have regular meetings on Zoom. So far they have reviewed 14 books including the famous novel ‘’Ponniyin Selvan’’.
Vijayalakshmi has a sweet tooth and absolutely loves ice cream and dark chocolate.
Her wish is to give her best to society and reach out to the most deserving people. She loves children too and is doing her bit by helping students with special needs to complete their schooling. Admissions are now open at Samruthaa Vidyashram for the academic year 2025-26. For details please contact the school at 98846 09696.
Juliana Sridhar is a lawyer and columnist
