Expressnews
The 3rd oldest Rotary Club in India, and the oldest in South India, with a membership of over 270 members today honored the simple and unassuming educationist, but a giant in the field of IT & Technical Education with The Life Time Achievement Award.
Dr. G Visvanathan rose from humble beginnings and worked himself up with sheer grit and determination, got adequately qualified and set up VIT in 1984 in Vellore, a backward area then. The only known institution in this area then was CMC.
Born in a remote village in the Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, he excelled at his early education. Schooled in his mother tongue, Dr. Viswanathan grew his academic portfolio step by step, with a Bachelors and Masters in Economics, moving on to a Law degree from the Madras University. An Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School followed. His stint as a student leader presaged greater things to come.
Presenting the Award to Dr G Viswanathan, President Jayshree Sridhar said, RCM is known and recognized throughout the Rotary world for its remarkable projects, community service initiatives and has always chosen the best for this prestigious award. Some of the earlier awardees were Dr Kiran Bedi and Viswanathan Anand.
In his acceptance speech, Dr G Visvanathan said, he was humbled and honored that a great club like the Rotary Club of Madras chose to confer the LifeTime Achievement Award on him. Dr GV added that he will continue to dedicate himself to the cause of Education and make the world accept the fact that Indian Engineers are among the best in the world. He said that the elders’ blessings and support he received from friends, family, Govt and others was invaluable in VIT’s sustained growth. The students were simply outstanding, he said. Given the correct guidance and opportunity our students can excel in any environment.
